BRIEF  SKETCH 


OF  THE 


HISTORY 


OP 


LEICESTER  ACADEMY. 


PART  I- 


By  EMORY  WASHBURN. 


BOSTON: 

PHILLIPS,  SAMPSON  AND  COMPANY, 

No.  13  WINTER  STREET. 

1855. 


FRZrS  07  THS 

J'ranftltn  ^rintfng  ^ous;, 

Corner  of  Franklin  and  Hawley  Streets, 

BOSTON. 


Jfnfac*. 


The  circumstances  under  which  this  little  work  was  undertaken,  were 
these : 

In  1851,  the  trustees  of  Leicester  Academy  appointed  a committee  of 
their  number  to  prepare  a brief  history  of  the  academy,  including  the  Char- 
ter, and,  so  far  as  able,  a catalogue  of  the  students,  and  such  other  matter 
as  they  might  deem  proper  for  publication. 

The  writer  of  this  report  was  placed  at  the  head  of  that  commission,  and 
as  opportunity,  among  various  pressing  engagements,  has  enabled  him  so  to 
do,  he  has  pursued  the  investigation,  till  he  has  put  into  form  what  is  con- 
tained in  the  following  pages. 

The  work  is  far  from  being  complete,  but,  to  the  extent  to  which  it  is  here 
presented,  it  has  been  intended  that  it  should  be  entire.  Whatever,  there- 
fore, may  be  to  be  added,  will  relate  to  topics  not  embraced  in  the  present 
publication. 

This  part  of  the  work  is  now  published,  from  the  uncertainty  when  the 
balance  can  be  completed,  and  a desire  expressed  by  many  persons  to  be 
possessed  of  it,  even  in  its  present  imperfect  state. 

For  the  opinions  and  sentiments  embraced  in  this  report,  no  one  of  the 
committee,  except  the  chairman,  is  responsible.  By  none  of  them  has  a 
page  of  it  been  read  before  publication. 

He  has  availed  himself  of  their  aid,  as  he  has  of  many  other  sources,  in 
gathering  his  materials,  some  of  which  are  acknowledged  in  the  body  of  the 
work.  Among  those  not  otherwise  named,  he  is  happy  to  mention  his 
associates  upon  the  committee,  Rev.  Air.  Allen,  Rev.  Dr.  Nelson,  and  J.  A. 
Denny,  Esq.,  besides  the  Hon.  Judge  Morris,  Dr.  James  Jackson,  S.  F 
Haven,  Esq.,  S.  Jenison,  Esq.,  and  0.  Hutchins,  Esq.,  formerly  a preceptor 
of  the  academy,  as  among  those  to  whom  he  is  indebted  for  the  means  of 
accomplishing,  thus  far,  his  humble  task. 

Should  the  trustees,  hereafter,  by  means  of  his  leisure  and  opportunity 
or  otherwise,  be  able  to  complete  this  work,  by  adding  anything  like  a full 
catalogue  of  those  who  have  shared  in  the  instruction  of  the  academy,  it 
would  be  found  an  interesting  record  of  the  wide-spread  influence  of  an 
institution  which  has  hitherto  been  fostered  by  the  public  favor,  and  has 
repaid,  by  its  success,  the  debt  of  gratitude  thereby  imposed  upon  its  officers 
and  teachers. 


■Worcester,  July,  1855. 


■ 


>• 

. . 


Co  tfje  Crustm  of  IToimfor  ‘^cakinji 


Gentlemen  : Much  time  has  elapsed  since  I was  honored  by  your  com" 
mission  to  collect,  for  preservation,  materials  for  the  history  of  Leicester 
Academy. 

Circumstances  beyond  my  control,  as  well  as  the  nature  of  the  duty,  have 
irresistibly  led  to  this  delay. 

To  such  as  are  familiar  with  the  process  of  collecting  historical  facts  from 
such  sources  as  are  open  in  an  enterprise  like  the  present,  it  is  unnecessary 
for  me  to  explain  the  difficulties  to  be  encountered,  even  in  so  humble  a 
work  as  that  in  which  I have  been  engaged. 

To  one  who  has  never  made  the  effort,  it  would  be  difficult  to  make  these 
intelligible.  And  yet  I should  be  doing  injustice  to  the  task  in  which  I have 
been  engaged,  if  I failed  to  acknowledge  the  pleasure  I have  derived  from  it. 

It  has  awakened  anew  the  pleasant  memories  of  the  past,  and  called  back 
many,  whom,  in  early  life,  I learned  to  regard  with  veneration  and  respect. 

If  no  other  good  can  result  from  the  materials  which  I here  offer  for  your 
acceptance,  they  will  serve  to  evince  how  earnest  and  sincere  have  been  the 
endeavors  of  its  trustees  and  instructors  to  meet  the  increasing  demands 
of  a progressive  age,  and  how  sedulously  they  have  labored  that  the  course 
of  instruction  here  pursued,  should  come  up  to  the  standard  which  an  en- 
lightened and  expanded  system  of  education  in  its  advance  has,  from  time  to 
time,  required. 

The  end  at  which  I have  chiefly  aimed  is  accuracy.  Indeed,  it  would  be 
little  better  than  hopeless  to  attempt  to  work  into  a homogeneous  and  con- 
sistent, consecutive  narrative,  isolated  parts  and  incidents  gleaned  from 
scanty  and  imperfect  records,  paragraphs  from  newspapers  or  occasional 
pamphlets,  or  the  fading  and  indistinct  recollections  of  aged  persons. 

My  greatest  difficulty  has  been  to  learn  the  names  and  history  of  those 
who  have  been  connected  with  the  institution  as  benefactors,  trustees,  pre- 


VI 


ceptors,  or  pupils.  Many  of  those,  from  having  never  been  in  public  office, 
or  from  only  a brief  connection  with  the  academy,  have  not  left  memorials 
which  I have  been  able  to  discover.  I may,  therefore,  have  unconsciously 
done  injustice  to  many  who  have  merited  a particular  notice  in  a work  like 
this. 

I cheerfully  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  many  gentlemen  in  the 
accomplishment  of  my  task,  and  among  them  I cannot  omit  to  mention  the 
late  Gov.  Crafts,  of  Vermont,  and  Daniel  Henshaw,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  and 
George  Davis,  Esq.,  of  Sturbridge;  their  recollections  of  Teachers  and 
Pupils  have  aided  me  much. 

The  arrangement  of  the  materials  which  I have  obtained,  which  I propose 
to  adopt  is : 

I.  The  Origin  and  Organization  of  the  Academy. 

II.  The  System  of  Discipline  and  Instruction  adopted  from  time  to  time, 
including  Text  Books,  Examinations,  Public  Exhibitions,  etc. 

III.  The  Condition  of  the  Funds,  from  time  to  time,  including  the  Real 
Estate  belonging  to  the  Academy,  the  origin,  application,  and  amount  of 
these  Funds,  and  personal  notices  of  some  of  its  Benefactors. 

IV.  Personal  notices  of  the  several  Trustees. 

V.  Personal  notices  of  the  Preceptors  and  Teachers. 

VI.  Miscellaneous  notices,  Commons,  Stewards,  Distinguished  Men  and 
Pupils  of  the  Academy,  etc.,  etc. 

' In  the  hope  that  this  may  serve  to  snatch  from  oblivion  incidents  in  the 
history  of  this  venerable  institution,  and  the  names  and  characters  of  some 
of  its  benefactors,  which  are  fast  fading  from  memory,  I have  felt  almost 
as  if  I were  performing  a filial  duty  while  executing  the  task  in  behalf  of 
the  committee  to  whom  you  assigned  this  duty. 

For  the  good  it  has  already  done,  and  the  good  it  has  yet  in  store  to  do, 
Leicester  Academy  has  a high  claim  upon  the  public  gratitude  and  favor. 
And  if  this  sketch  of  her  history  shall  do  something  to  impress  this  upon  the 
public  mind,  the  work  mil  not  have  been  in  vain. 

I am  happy  to  bear  testimony  to  the  fidelity  of  those  with  whom  I have 
had  the  honor  to  act  in  the  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  Academy. 
They  have  given,  by  their  devotion  to  its  interests,  hitherto,  an  earnest  that 
nothing  will  be  wanting  on  their  part  to  render  the  institution  what,  in  fact, 
it  has  always  been,  an  efficient  aid  in  carrying  forward  the  great  cause  of 


Yll 


education  in  Massachusetts,  and  a blessing  to  the  community  who  share  its 
privileges. 

With  this  explanation,  and  with  sentiments  of  high  respect,  I offer  for 
your  acceptance  this  report  of  what  I have  done  in  behalf  of  the  committee, 
in  obedience  to  your  vote,  towards  collecting  and  preserving  the  history  of 
Leicester  Academy. 

EMORY  WASHBURN. 

Worcester,  May,  1855. 


Mstcnuj  of 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  ORIGIN  AND  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  ACADEMY, 

This  institution  had  its  origin  in  that  dark  period  of  the 
history  of  the  Commonwealth  which  immediately  succeeded 
the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

Her  resources  had  been  exhausted  in  that  struggle,  and, 
amidst  its  absorbing  interests,  the  education  of  the  young  had 
been  neglected.  In  some  towns,  the  schools  had  been 
suspended,  and  in  few  of  them  had  the  system  of  popular 
education  maintained  any  thing  more  than  a feeble  existence. 

Instances  were,  by  nojneans,  rare  where  youth  of  both  sexes 
passed  through  that  interval  from  1776  to  1783,  without  enjoy- 
ing the  advantages  of  schools,  except,  perhaps,  for  a few  days 
in  the  year,  even  in  the  more  populous  and  wealthy  neigh- 
borhoods. 

Education  was  consequently  at  a low  ebb ; nor  was  the 
apprehension  entirely  without  foundation,  that  there  would 
not  be  sufficient  general  intelligence  among  the  people  to  sus- 
tain the  free  power  of  government,  for  the  establishment  of 
which  there  had  been  so  much  blood  and  treasure  expended. 

The  college  at  Cambridge  had  long  been  cherished  by  the 

people  of  Massachusetts  as  an  institution  which  had  done 
1 


6 


much  to  educate  a learned  ministry,  and  sustain  the  charac- 
ter of  the  other  professions. 

Two  academies  for  the  education  of  young  men  preparatory 
to  college,  or  a life  of  active  business,  had  been  chartered  and 
endowed.  And  these  constituted  the  only  seminaries  of  learn- 
ing beyond  the  district  school,  or,  perhaps,  a few  private 
establishments  in  which  the  youth  of  the  county  might  hope 
to  be  taught. 

As  these  academies  were  situate  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State,  a general  want  was  felt  for  an  institution  in  a central 
position,  to  which  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  people  of 
that  portion  of  the  Commonwealth  could  resort  for  the  pur- 
poses of  education. 

It  was  in  this  state  of  the  public  feeling,  and  while  the  ex- 
igency of  the  times  demanded  that  something  should  be  done 
for  the  improvement  and  education  of  the  rising  generation, 
that  two  individuals  came  forward,  and,  by  their  public  spirit 
and  wise  liberality,  laid  the  foundation  of  an  institution  which 
has  now,  for  more  than  seventy  years,  been  entirely  devoted 
to  this  great  and  holy  work. 

Leicester  Academy  owes  its  origin  to  the  efforts  and  gen- 
erosity of  Ebenezer  Crafts,  of  Sturbridge,  and  Jacob  Davis, 
of  Charlton,  and  their  names  deserve  to  be  associated  with 
the  Dummers  and  Phillipses  of  an  earlier  day,  the  monuments 
of  whose  munificence  in  the  institutions  they  founded,  are 
among  the  most  honorable  of  which  our  Commonwealth  can 
boast. 

Dimmer  Academy  at  Byfield  was  founded  in  1756,  though 
not  incorporated  till  after  the  revolution  in  1782.  And  Phil- 
lips Academy  at  Andover  was  commenced  in  1777,  and 
incorporated  in  1780.  So  that,  in  the  order  of  incorporation, 
the  academy  at  Andover  takes  precedence,  when,  in  fact,  that 
at  Byfield  was  much  earlier  founded. 

In  tracing  the  history  of  Leicester  Academy,  every  one 
must  be  struck  with  the  entire  absence  of  self-interest  on  the 
part  of  its  founders  in  the  inception  and  prosecution  of  the 


/ 


enterprise.  Neither  of  them  had  local  pride  to  gratify,  or 
property  to  enhance  in  value  by  selecting  Leicester  as  the 
seat  of  such  an  institution. 

The  object  they  had  at  heart  was  to  found  an  academy.  Its 
locality,  became  rather  a matter  of  favorable  accident  than  any 
original  design  on  their  part. 

The  conception  of  such  a work,  as  well  as  the  first  steps 
towards  accomplishing  it,  belonged  to  Colonel  Crafts.  He 
was,  as  I shall  have  occasion  to  remark  hereafter,  a gentle- 
man of  liberal  education,  and  broad  and  generous  views,  and 
one  who  felt  the  importance  and  necessity  of  some  measure 
to  provide  a better  system  of  instruction  for  the  young  than 
they  then  enjoyed  within  the  county. 

Various  plans  for  effecting  this  purpose  suggested  them- 
selves to  his  mind.  At  one  time,  he  thought  seriously  of 
attempting  to  establish  an  academy  in  Sturbridge,  where  he 
resided.  But  the  need  of  suitable  buildings,  and  the  original 
expense  of  erecting  such,  seemed  to  offer  an  impediment  to 
the  enterprise  too  serious  for  him  to  surmount. 

While  his  mind  was  thus  exercised  how  to  accomplish  the 
plan  he  had  conceived,  the  death  of  Aaron  Lopez,  and  the 
removal  of  the  families  of  J ews  from  Leicester,  to  which  place 
they  had  resorted  from  Newport  to  escape  the  hostilities  which 
the  English  waged  upon  that  town,  opened  to  Colonel  Crafts 
the  means  of  carrying  forward  his  favorite  scheme. 

Mr.  Lopez  was  one  "of  the  merchant  princes  of  his  day.  He 
was,  at  one  time,  extensively  engaged  in  commerce,  and  pos- 
sessed of  great  wealth.  He  was  distinguished  for  hospitality 
and  benevolence,  and  his  fine  gentlemanly  manners,  united 
with  a character  of  irreproachable  integrity,  secured  him  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.* 

His  place  of  business  before  the  Be  volution  had  been  New- 
port, then  the  commercial  emporium  of  New  England.  In 


* The  inventory  of  his  estate  shows  a property  of  nearly  $100,000,  including  a stock  in 
trade  of  more  than  $12,000,  and  indicating,  by  the  character  of  the  furniture,  and  family 
stores  on  hand,  a style  of  living  not  common,  at  that  day.  in  the  country. 


8 


the  summer  of  1777, 1 believe,  he,  together  with  several  other 
families  of  J ews,  removed  to  Leicester,  where  they  purchased 
and  occupied  estates,  and  Mr.  Lopez  resumed,  to  a limited 
extent,  his  mercantile  pursuits. 

To  accommodate  these,  and  to  provide  for  his  family  a suit- 
able residence,  he  erected  what  was  then  regarded  as  a spa- 
cious and  commodious  dwelling-house,  containing  a large 
centre  room  for  the  purposes  of  a store.  I shall  have  occasion 
to  speak  more  particularly  of  this  estate  in  another  connection. 

On  the  20th  day  of  May,  1782,  Mr,  Lopez  started,  with 
his  family,  to  visit  Providence,  they  in  a carriage,  and  him- 
self in  a gig  drawn  by  one  horse.  In  passing  Scott’s  pond, 
in  Smithfield,  on  his  w~ay,  he  drove  his  horse  into  the  w~ater, 
as  was  supposed,  to  drink,  when,  by  some  means,  he  got 
beyond  his  depth,  upset  the  gig,  and  Mr.  Lopez  was  drowned 
in  the  very  presence  of  his  family,  who  could  render  him  no 
assistance. 

This  circumstance,  together  with  the  return  of  peace,  in- 
duced these  families  to  return  to  Newport,  leaving,  however, 
among  the  inhabitants  of  Leicester,  a grateful  remembrance 
of  their  residence  here,  which  was  cordially  reciprocated. 

This  train  of  events  rendered  it  necessary  to  sell  the  estate 
of  Mr.  Lopez,  and  the  same  was  offered  at  auction.  Colonel 
Crafts  regarded  it  as  a favorable  opportunity  to  obtain  a 
suitable  building  for  an  academy  upon  reasonable  terms,  and 
proposed  to  Colonel  Davis  to  join  with  him  in  the  purchase. 

There  had  not,  however,  been  any  previous  concert  between 
them,  nor  had  the  idea  of  purchasing  the  estate  occurred  to 
either,  till  they  came  together  on  the  day  of  the  sale,  with 
great  numbers  of  people  from  the  neighboring  towns,  which 
the  occasion  attracted. 

Colonel  Davis,  at  once,  came  into  the  views  of  Colonel  Crafts, 
and  the  estate  was  bid  off  to  Colonel  Crafts,  Colonel  Davis, 
and  Asa  Sprague,  for  the  sum  of  five  hundred  and  fifteen 
pounds. 

What  the  design  of  Mr.  Sprague  was,  in  joining  in  the 


9 


purchase,  does  not  appear.  If  he  had  any  intention  to  aid  in 
founding  an  institution,  he  seems  soon  to  have  abandoned  it ; 
for,  in  September  following  the  purchase,  he  conveyed  his 
interest  in  the  estate  to  Colonel  Crafts. 

The  original  deed  of  the  estate  bears  date  May  7th,  1788, 
and,  on  the  fourth  of  July  following,  Colonel  Crafts,  with  his 
accustomed  energy  and  promptness,  commenced  proceedings 
which  resulted  in  the  accomplishment  of  his  original  design. 

He  addressed  a petition  to  the  legislature,  of  which  the 
following  is  a copy  : 

“ To  the  Honorable,  etc. : The  Petition  of  Ebenezer  Crafts,  of  Sturbridge, 
in  the  comity  of  Worcester,  humbly  sheweth,  that  he,  the  said  Ebenezer, 
together  with  Jacob  Davis,  of  Charlton,  Esquire,  and  Asa  Sprague,  of  Spen- 
cer, Gentleman,  both  in  said  county,  some  time  in  the  month  of  April  last 
past,  purchased  a large  and  commodious  building,  with  about  one  acre  of 
land,  late  the  property  of  Aaron  Lopez,  deceased,  lying  and  being  in  the 
town  of  Leicester,  in  the  county,  etc.,  with  intent  and  design  to  promote  the 
public  benefit  in  the  education  of  youth,  as  the  said  buildings  are  exceedingly 
well  calculated  for  an  academy.  And,  having  every  reason  to  believe 
your  honors  will  encourage  such  laudable  motives,  do,  with  the  greater  free- 
dom, request  your  honors  to  incorporate  and  establish  the  afore-cited  prem- 
ises, under  the  following  trustees,  viz.,  Ebenezer  Crafts,  Esq.,  Rev.  Joshua 
Paine,  Timothy  Newhall,  Esq.,  of  Sturbridge,  Jacob  Davis,  Esq.,  Mr.  Ca- 
leb Amidown,  of  Charlton,  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Conklin,  and  Seth  Washburn, 
Esq.,  of  Leicester,  William  Stearns,  and  Samuel  Curtis,  of  Worcester, 
Esquires,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Pope,  Mr.  Asa  Sprague,  of  Spencer,  Dwight 
Foster,  of  Brookfield,  all  in  the  county  of  Worcester ; the  Rev.  Nehemiah 
Williams,  and  the  Hon.  Timothy  Danielson,  Esq.,  both  of  Brimfield,  in  the 
county  of  Hampshire.  — 

We,  therefore,  pray  your  honors  to  incorporate  the  aforementioned  trus- 
tees into  a body  politic,,  for  the  purpose  above  mentioned,  with  such  privi- 
leges and  advantages  as  are  granted  to  the  academy  at  Andover,  whereby 
the  same  may  be  made  respectable,  whereby  the  advantage  of  the  education 
of  youth  may  be  promoted;  whereby  advantages  may  arise  not  only  to 
individuals,  but  to  the  public  in  general,  and  prove  a blessing  to  our  land  of 
liberty.. 

July  4th,  1783. 


Ebenezer  Crafts/ 


10 


The  enterprise  which  had  thus  been  conceived  found  gen- 
eral favor  in  the  county,  and  enlisted  the  zealous  and  active 
sympathy  of  many  of  its  prominent  citizens.  Among  these 
was  the  late  Isaiah  Thomas,  Esq.,  then  the  publisher  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Massachusetts  Spy,  who  rendered  efficient  aid 
to  the  work  by  the  influence  of  that  paper. 

In  the  Spy  of  the  6th  November,  1783,  it  was  announced 
that  “ there  would  soon  be  opened  at  Leicester  an  academy 
for  the  purpose  of  promoting  the  sciences,  etc. ; ” and  an  ap- 
peal was,  at  the  same  time,  made  to  “ the  people  of  this  large 
county  ” “ to  exert  themselves  to  second  the  endeavors  of 
those  gentlemen  who  have  laid  this  generous  and  laudable 
plan  of  another  channel  to  public  education.” 

It  was  further  stated,  that  “ This  academy  will  be  opened 
in  that  large  and  elegant  house  lately  occupied  by  Mr.  Aaron 
Lopez,  a situation  peculiarly  advantageous  for  this  purpose.” 

In  a subsequent  number  of  that  paper,  an  appeal  was  again 
made  to  the  public  “ to  set  on  foot  a subscription  through  the 
county,  at  least,  in  favor  of  our  infant  academy.” 

It  does  not  appear  how  generally  this  appeal  was  responded 
to,  but  it  is  pleasant  to  record  the  ready  compliance  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Buckminster,  of  Rutland,  with  the  suggestion,  who, 
at  the  close  of  his  sermon  on  Thanksgiving  day  of  that  year, 
addressed  his  congregation  in  strong  terms,  upon  the  import- 
ance of  lending  their  aid  to  the  proposed  institution.  These 
remarks  were  afterwards  published  by  Mr.  Thomas,  in  his 
paper. 

A brief  notice  is  due  to  the  memory  of  this  early  friend  of 
Leicester  Academy. 

Rev.  Joseph  Buckminster  was  a native  of  Framingham, 
and  was  graduated  at  Cambridge,  in  1739.  He  was  ordained 
over  the  church  and  society  in  Rutland,  in  1742,  and  re- 
mained the  pastor  of  that  church  till  his  death,  November, 
1772,  at  the  age  of  72. 

He  was  greatly  respected  as  a man,  and  somewhat  distin- 
guished as  a divine. 

Several  of  his  sermons  were  published. 


11 


He  was  an  active  and  efficient  promoter  of  the  cause  of 
learning,  and  a friend  of  literary  institutions  ; and  his  efforts  in 
favor  of  this  academy  in  its  infancy,  were  too  sincere  and  dis- 
interested to  be  overlooked  when  chronicling  the  names  of 
those  who  fostered  its  early  growth,  and  sustained  it  in  the 
days  of  its  adversity  and  weakness. 

The  amount  contributed  by  Colonels  Crafts  and  Davis  may 
seem,  at  first  sight,  to  have  been  too  inconsiderable  to  justify 
the  commendations  paid  to  their  munificence.  But  the  time 
and  circumstances  under  which  this  was  done  should  be 
taken  into  consideration  in  judging  of  the  act. 

Whatever  they  did  was  a spontaneous  act,  prompted  only 
by  a desire  to  have  a seminary  of  learning  established  in  the 
county.  And  the  difficulty  which  was  encountered  in  obtain- 
ing sufficient  additional  funds  to  render  it  expedient,  in  the 
minds  of  the  legislature,  to  incorporate  the  institution  shows 
that  the  pecuniary  condition  of  the  people  rendered  the  pay- 
ment of  even  a much  smaller  sum  an  act  of  acknowledged 
generosity.  Indeed,  the  difficulty  in  obtaining  subscriptions 
of  sufficient  funds  at  one  time  threatened  to  defeat  the  act  of 
incorporation  altogether. 

The  petition  above  recited  was  presented  to  the  Senate,  by 
Hon.  Seth  Washburn,  then  a member  of  that  body,  February 
2d,  1784,  and  was  referred  to  a committee,  consisting  of  the 
Hon.  Mr.  Baker,  afterwards  one  of  the  trustees  on  the  part 
of  the  Senate,  and  Miv  Phillips  and  Mr.  Bartlett,  on  the  part 
of  the  House. 

Athough  these  gentlemen  were  friends  of  the  measure,  and 
readily  reported  in  favor  of  bringing  in  a bill  for  the  incor- 
poration of  the  academy,  they  wisely  appended  a condition  to 
their  report  that,  before  the  bringing  in  of  such  a bill,  the 
petitioners  should  make  it  appear  to  the  General  Court,  that 
a sum  of  one  thousand  pounds,  exclusive  of  the  real  estate, 
had  been  raised  for  the  purposes  of  the  academy,  before  it 
should  become  a law.* 

* Samuel  Adams  was  the  President  of  the  Senate,  and  Tristram  Dalton,  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Representatives. 


Further  proceedings  were  accordingly  suspended  in  the 
Legislature,  and  an  effort  to  raise  the  requisite  sum  was  suc- 
cessfully made.  So  that,  on  the  23d  March,  1784,  a bill  for 
incorporating  the  academy  was  passed. 

The  preamble  to  the  act  recites  the  views  of  the  legislature, 
and  the  circumstances  under  which  the  act  was  passed. 

Whereas  the  encouragement  of  literature  in  the  rising  generation  has 
ever  been  considered,  by  the  wise  and  good,  as  an  object  worthy  of  the  most 
serious  attention,  as  the  safety  and  happiness  of  a free  people  ultimately  de- 
pend upon  the  advantages  arising  from  a pious,  virtuous  and  liberal  educa- 
tion : Whereas  it  appears  that  Ebenezer  Crafts,  of  Sturbridge,  in  the  county 
of  Worcester,  and  Jacob  Davis,  of  Charlton,  in  said  county,  Esquires,  for  the 
purpose  of  promoting  piety  and  learning,  have  generously  given  the  large 
and  commodious  house,  lands  and  appurtenances,  in  Leicester,  lately  occu- 
pied by  Aaron  Lopez,  deceased,  for  the  use  of  an  academy,  and  it  further 
appears,  that  the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds  is  generously  subscribed  for 
the  support  of  said  academy,  the  interest  thereof,  together  with  what  may 
hereafter  be  raised  by  donations,  with  the  income  or  rent  of  all  real  estate 
to  be  appropriated  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  said  academy,  as  trustees 
to  be  appointed,  shall  think  most  expedient,  etc. 

The  act  names  fifteen  trustees,  most  of  whom  had  been  men- 
tioned in  the  original  petition  of  Colonel  Crafts,  of  whom  six 
were  clergymen  and  nine  laymen.  It  declares  the  incorpora- 
tion to  be  “ for  the  purposes  of  promoting  true  piety  and  virtue, 
and  for  the  education  of  youth  in  the  English,  Latin,  Greek 
and  French  languages,  together  with  writing,  arithmetic  and 
the  art  of  speaking,  also  practical  geometry,  logic,  philosophy 
and  geography,  and  such  other  liberal  arts  and  sciences  as 
opportunity  may  hereafter  permit,  and  the  trustees  hereinafter 
provided  shall  direct.” 

The  deed  from  Colonels  Crafts  and  Davis  to  the  trustees  of 
Leicester  Academy  bears  date  May,  1784,  and  is  stated  therein 
to  have  been  made  in  consideration,  besides  a nominal  pecu- 
niary sum,  of  “ the  regard  the  grantors  bear  to  virtue  and 
learning,  which  they  consider  greatly  conducive  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  community.” 

In  order  to  compare  with  the  standard  of  our  own  day,  what 


IS 


was  so  often  spoken  of  as  the  “ large  and  elegant  structure,” 
— “ the  large  and  commodious  mansion  house,”  which  was 
thus  dedicated  to  the  purposes  of  an  academy,  I shall  endea- 
vor to  describe,  partly  from  recollection  and  partly  from  the 
information  of  others,  its  dimensions  and  position. 

The  house  was  two  stories  high,  having  six  rooms  upon  the 
lower  story,  three  in  front,  and  three  in  rear.  The  middle 
room  in  front  had  been  used  by  Mr.  Lopez,  for  a store  room, 
and  occupied  more  space  in  length,  than  the  other  two  rooms 
in  the  south-east  and  south-west  corners  of  the  house.  It 
stood  near  the  road  fronting  toward  the  south,  and  was  sur- 
mounted by  a kind  of  cupola,  in  which  hung  a bell,  the  gift, 
I believe,  of  Mr.  Stickney  of  Leicester. 

Upon  the  front  of  the  building,  were  two  outer  doors,  over 
which  were  porches,  supported  by  two  pillars  with  corres- 
ponding pilasters,  to  which  it  had  been  attempted  to  give 
something  like  architectural  proportions  though  without  much 
success.  This  was  the  only  attempt  at  architectural  ornament 
upon  the  exterior  of  the  building,  whose  front  might  have 
been  perhaps  seventy-five  feet  in  length.  The  stories  were 
not  probably  more  than  from  seven  to  seven  and  one-half  feet 
in  height.  Its  windows  were  made  of  panes  of  glass,  six  by 
eight  inches  in  size — and  its  general  appearance  and  effect  cor- 
responded with  what  might  be  expected  in  a building  of  such 
proportions,  devoid  of  ornament,  and  thus  lighted. 

Dr.  Pierce,  in  his  aff dress  before  the  academy  in  1847, 
speaks  of  the  appearance  of  the  building  in  1793  as  follows. 
“ It  was  an  oblong,  barrack-looking  building,  erected  by  Jews 
who  had  migrated  from  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  and  raised 
this  rough  looking  structure  for  mercantile  uses.” 

And  yet,  according  to  the  standard  of  architectural  taste  of 
the  day,  it  was  an  imposing  structure.  Mr.  Lopez  was  a man 
of  refined  taste,  ample  fortune  and  liberal  habits ; and  can 
hardly  be  supposed  to  have  intentionally  spared  any  reason- 
able expense,  in  constructing  a mansion  house  for  himself. 

The  east  and  west  wings  or  end  of  this  building  remain,  hav- 


14 


ing  been  removed  and  fitted  up  as  dwelling-houses  upon  the 
road  leading  to  Charlton,  within  the  present  village  of  Leices- 
ter, and  it  is  only  necessary  to  compare  these  with  the  propor- 
tions and  style  of  exterior  finish  of  the  better  class  of  dwelling- 
houses  of  our  own  day,  to  judge  something  of  the  progress 
that  has  been  made  in  the  arts,  both  in  respect  to  convenience 
and  luxury,  during  the  last  seventy-five  years,  in  our  country. 

The  building  stood  in  front  of  the  present  academy,  but 
more  westerly,  and  close  by  the  road,  and,  at  the  time  of 
which  I am  speaking,  there  was,  I believe,  no  dwelling-house 
upon  either  side  of  the  street  east  of  it,  except  one  occupied 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Conklin,  which  stood  upon  the  site  of  the 
house  now  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  May.  While  towards  the  west,  at 
the  distance  of  about  a dozen  rods,  stood  an  old,  dilapidated, 
ill-proportioned  meeting-house,  with  diamond  shaped  win- 
dows, but  without  either  porch  or  belfry. 

Between  these  was  the  “ training  field,”  extending  back 
some  eight  or  ten  rods,  from  the  north-east  corner  of  which  a 
“ lane  ” led  to  the  remains  of  an  old  house,  some  twenty  rods 
distant,  in  which  Mr.  Parsons,  the  first  minister,  had  lived ; 
while  in  rear  of  the  meeting-house  was  the  original  burying- 
ground  of  the  town,  surrounded  by  a “ brush”  fence,  extend- 
ing around  to  the  north-west  corner  of  the  meeting-house. 

These  constituted  the  entire  part  of  the  village  of  Leicester 
lying  east  of  the  road  leading  to  Paxton,  if  we  except  a build- 
ing standing  opposite  the  meeting-house,  upon  the  south  side 
of  the  road,  where  had  been  once  a small  shoe-maker’s  shop, 
which  had,  a few  years  before  that  time,  given  place  to  a 
building  of  more  imposing  proportions,  erected  by  Mr.  Waite 
for  a tavern. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  trustees  for  the  purposes  of  organ- 
izing the  corporation  was  notified  on  the  1st  of  April  1784, 
and  held  on  the  7th  of  that  month. 

The  exercises  and  proceedings  on  that  occasion  were  inter- 
esting and  impressive. 

The  trustees  repaired  in  a body  to  the  church  where  public 


15 


exercises  were  had,  consisting  of  a solemn  prayer  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Maccarty,  and  a discourse  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Conklin,  from 
Proverbs  xi.  £5,  followed  by  prayer,  singing,  etc.  After 
this,  the  trustees,  with  a number  of  distinguished  invited  guests, 
partook  of  an  ff  elegant  repast,  ” which  had  been  provided  in 
the  academy. 

They  then  proceeded  to  elect  the  corporate  officers,  and 
chose  the  Hon.  Moses  Gill,  President,  Rev.  Benjamin  Conklin, 
Vice  President,  Rev.  Joseph  Pope,  Secretary,  Joseph  Allen 
Esq.,  Treasurer,  and  Colonel  Crafts,  “ Steward  and  Butler.” 
The  precise  nature  of  the  duties  of  this  latter  officer  were 
not  defined,  but,  as  he  never  resided  at  Leicester,  it  is  pre- 
sumed they  consisted  chiefly  in  procuring  a suitable  person  to 
take  charge  of  the  academy  buildings,  and  provide  e£  commons” 
for  the  students. 

Two  committees  were  at  the  same  time  appointed,  one  to 
procure  a teacher  who  should  instruct  in  the  " Latin  and 
Greek  languages,  geography,  logic,  etc.”  and  the  other  to 
procure  a teacher  of  (e  the  English  language,  writing,  arith- 
metic, surveying,  etc.”  And  if  said  instructors  could  be  ob- 
tained by  the  next  meeting  of  the  trustees,  the  school  was  to  be 
opened  ee  with  all  convenient  speed,”  “ provided  such  a num- 
ber be  offered  to  receive  instruction  as  should  be  thought,  by  the 
trustees,  a sufficient  encouragement  to  enter  upon  the  work.” 
The  south-west  “ parlor,”  in  the  academy  building,  was 
appropriated  to  the  Latin  department  of  the  school ; and  the 
south-east  parlor,  for  the  English  department ; while  the  in- 
termediate room,  upon  the  front  of  the  building,  was  reserved  as 
common  for  both  schools  for  declamations,  and  occasions  when 
the  pupils  of  both  schools  were  to  assemble,  and  it  served, 
at  the  same  time,  the  purposes  of  a (e  Commons  Hall.”* 

The  south-west  chamber  was  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the 
preceptors,  while  the  other  parts  of  the  building  were  set 
apart  for  the  use  of  the  steward  of  the  academy,  and  as  lodg- 

* Among  the  favors  I have  to  acknowledge,  Is  a letter  now  before  me,  from  an  early  pre- 
ceptor of  the  English  department,  who  thus  describes  his  school-room. 

“ I boarded  in  commons,  assisted  in  carving  and  distribution,  and  never  eat  a meal  of  vie- 


16 


mg  rooms  for  such  students  as  should  take  their  board  in 
“ commons.” 

Benjamin  Stone  was  employed,  under  this  arrangement,  as 
principal  preceptor  ; and  the  school  was  opened,  under  lib 
charge  and  tuition,  on  Monday,  the  7th  of  June,  1781. 

No  preceptor  of  the  English  department  was  employed 
until  the  succeeding  autumn,  when  Thomas  Payson  was 
appointed  to  the  place,  and  entered  upon  its  duties. 

The  school  commenced  with  three  pupils,  two  from  Sfcur- 
bridge,  and  one  from  Leicester.  Soon  after,  Eli  Whitney,  of 
Westboro’,  whose  name  has  been  so  widely  known,  joined  the 
school,  and  the  number  of  students,  during  the  summer  after 
the  academy  was  opened,  increased  to  about  twenty.  Upon 
the  opening  of  the  autumn  term,  with  two  preceptors,  the 
number  rose  to  between  seventy  and  eighty. 

The  names  of  the  three  who  constituted  the  entire  school 
at  its  opening,  were  Samuel  C.  Crafts,  Ephraim  Allen,  and 
Samuel  Swan. 

Hon.  Samuel  C.  Crafts  was  the  son  of  Colonel  Crafts,  and 
was  born  in  Woodstock,  Conn.,  in  1768,  and,  at  an  early  age, 
removed  with  his  father  to  Sturbridge. 

He  fitted  for  college  at  the  academy,  and  was  graduated  at 
Cambridge,  in  1790.  After  leaving  college,  he  commenced 
the  study  of  the  law,  but  abandoned  it  upon  his  removal  with 
his  father  to  Vermont  in  the  winter  of  1790—1.  From  that 
time,  Craftsbury  was  his  residence  during  the  remainder  of 
his  life. 

There  were  few  public  offices,  either  in  town,  county,  or  state, 
that  he  was  not,  at  some  time,  called  to  fill,  and  in  all  acquit- 
ted himself  with  honor  and  entire  acceptance.  As  few  men 
ever  shared  more  fully  in  public  honors,  no  man  ever  com- 
manded, more  completely  and  justly,  the  public  confidence. 

He  was  the  first  town  clerk  of  the  town  of  Craftsbury,  and, 

tuals  ia  a calm,  leisurely  and  undisturbed  manner.  I taught  and  lived  in  the  old,  rickety,  in- 
convenient, Jewish  house.  We  had  an  old-fashioned  box  stove,  no  dry  wood,  all  green  and 
wet  ; teachers  and  students  were  infested  and  inflated  all  day  with  steam  and  smoke, — old 
crowded  seats— what  would  young  persons  now  think,  were  they  thus  used  ? ’’ 


17 


for  thirty-seven  years,  was  re-elected  annually  to  that  office. 
In  1793,  he  was  a member  of  the  convention  that  formed  the 
Constitution  of  Vermont.  In  1796,  he  was  a member  of  the 
legislature,  and,  the  two  following  years,  clerk  of  that  body, 
and  was  frequently,  after,  elected  a member.  From  1800  to 
1810,  he  was  first*  assistant  Judge  of  the  County  Court ; and, 
from  that  time  till  1816,  Chief  Justice  of  that  Court. 

In  1816,  he  was  elected  to  Congress,  and  held  a seat  in 
that  body  for  eight  years.  From  1828  to  1830,  he  was  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State.  In  1842,  he  was  appointed  a Senator  in 
Congress,  and,  upon  the  resignation  of  Judge  Prentiss,  was 
elected  to  serve  out  the  balance  of  his  term  in  the  Senate. 
He  died,  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-five,  November  19th,  1853. 

It  is  no  part  of  the  purpose  of  this  work  to  write  eulogies 
upon  those  of  whom  it  becomes  necessary  to  speak.  And 
yet  a notice  of  Gov.  Crafts  cannot  be  otherwise  than  a eulogy 
if  it  does  any  thing  like  justice  to  his  character.  He  was  a 
man  of  a rare  combination  of  good  sense,  sound  learning,  great 
moral  worth,  and  unpretending  simplicity  of  manners.  Pub- 
lic honors  and  popular  favor  never  disturbed  the  quiet  cur- 
rent of  a blameless  life.  And  he  stood  to  those  around  him 
in  the  relation  of  a sage  counsellor  and  faithful  friend,  com- 
manding the  respect  and  esteem  of  all.  It  is  pleasant  to  trace, 
through  a long  life,  the  history  of  one  who  was,  literally,  of 
this  academy  at  its  beginning,  and,  in  every  position,  did 
credit  to  his  early  training.  He  had  watched  its  progress  for 
fifty-seven  years,  and  always  felt  an  interest  in  its  success, 
and,  in  writing  its  history,  his  name  could  not  have  been  prop- 
erly omitted. 

Ephraim  Allen  was  born  in  Sturbridge,  and  was  graduated 
at  Cambridge,  in  1789.  He  became  a physician,  and  mar- 
ried .a  daughter  of  General  Newhall,  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  academy,  and  settled  in  Salem,  N.  Y.,  where  he  resided 
till  his  death,  in  1816.  He  sustained  a high  reputation  in 
his  profession,  and  was  much  respected. 

Samuel  Swan,  the  survivor  of  the  three,  was  born  in  Leices- 


18 


ter,  in  1778,  and  the  son  of  Reuben  Swan,  who,  it  will 
appear  hereafter,  was  one  of  the  contributors  to  the  original 
fund  of  the  academy.  He  was  consequently  very  young  when 
he  entered  the  academy.  He  remained,  however,  in  the 
school  till  fitted  for  college,  and  was  graduated  at  Cambridge, 
in  1799. 

He  studied  law  with  Hon.  N.  P.  Denny,  Esq.,  in  Leices- 
ter, and  settled  in  his  profession  in  Hubbardston,  where  he 
still  resides,  having,  for  some  years,  withdrawn  from  the 
practice  of  his  profession. 

The  salary  of  the  principal  preceptor  was  at  first  fixed  at 
£50,  “ he  being  at  the  expense  of  his  own  support.” 

Though  there  were  periods,  soon  after  the  opening  of  the 
academy,  when  its  struggle  for  existence  was  of  doubtful  issue, 
after  surmounting  its  early  embarrassments,  it  has  never 
failed  hitherto  to  supply,  to  those  who  have  resorted  to  it  for 
an  education,  the  aid  of  a well-regulated  and  well-disciplined 
school,  under  teachers  of  competent  and  often  eminent  quali- 
fications. 

It  from  the  gratifying  progress  and  improvement  in  our 
system  of  common  schools,  there  is  less  occasion  for  institu- 
tions like  this  academy  than  there  once  was,  and  if,  in  con- 
sequence of  this,  the  number  of  its  pupils  may,  at  any  time, 
have  seemed  disproportioned  to  the  encouragements  it  holds 
out  to  those  seeking  an  education,  its  friends  claim  for  it  that 
it  has  generally  kept  pace  with  the  growing  wants  of  the  age, 
and  met  every  reasonable  requisition  that  has  been  made  upon 
it.  How  far  it  may  be  hoped  that  this  will  continue  to  be 
true  may,  perhaps,  be  better  inferred  from  an  examination  of 
the  system  of  discipline  and  instruction  in  use  there,  the  con- 
dition of  its  funds,  and  the  character  of  its  trustees  and  teach- 
ers hitherto,  which  will  form  the  subject  of  the  future  chapters 
of  this  work. 


19 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  SYSTEM  OF  DISCIPLINE  AND  INSTRUCTION  ADOPTED  FROM 

TIME  TO  TIME,  INCLUDING  TEXT  BOOKS,  EXAMINATIONS, 

EXHIBITIONS,  ETC. 

In  regard  to  the  system  of  instruction  adopted  and  pursued 
at  this  academy,  it  may  be  generally  remarked  that  the  pol- 
icy, on  the  part  of  trustees  and  instructors,  has  been  to  give 
it  a sound,  practical  character,  rather  than  to  adopt  those 
measures  in  which  utility  is  too  often  sacrificed  to  popular 
eclat.* 

The  consequence  has  been,  that  it  has  kept  on  the  even 
tenor  of  its  way,  without  attempting  to  attract  by  new  experi- 
ments or  ingenious  speculations. 

It  lays  no  claim  to  haying  been,  to  any  considerable  degree, 
in  advance  of  other  similar  institutions  in  its  standard  of 
education. 

While,  for  instance.  Harvard  College  did  not  require,  (as 
vre  are  assured,  by  the  venerable  Dr.  Pierce,  in  his  address 
before  the  academy,  wras  the  case  in  1789,)  that  a student,  in 
order  to  obtain  an  admission  into  College,  should  know  any- 
thing of  arithmetic  or  geography,  it  would  hardly  be  expected 
that  the  standard  of  education  in  the  academy  in  1784  should 
be  veiy  elevated. 

Utility,  therefore,  rather  than  show,  has  been  the  leading 
policy  of  the  academy  in  its  course  of  instruction. 

Provision  was  at  first  made  for  procuring  a “ Preceptor  in 
the  Greek  and  Latin  Languages,”  and  also  a “ Teacher  of 
English,  Writing,  Arithmetic,  etc.,”  and  that  “ the  youth  to 
he  put  under  the  care  of  such  instructor  should  be  personally 


* The  branch'es  taught  at  first  in  the  English  department,  were  Reading,  Writing,  Arithme- 
tic, English  Grammar,  and  Public  Speaking.  Geography  was  not  taught  at  all. 


20 


examined  by  him,  the  Vice  President,  and  the  Latin  and 
Greek  Preceptor,  as  to  their  acquaintance  with  the  first  rudi- 
ments of  learning,  and  whether  they  were  qualified  for 
admission. 

There  is  reason,  however,  to  believe  that  this  preliminary 
examination,  if  ever  employed,  was  based  upon  such  extreme- 
ly “ first  rudiments  ” as  to  amount  to  no  check  to  the  admis- 
sion of  students,  for  Mr.  Swan  could  have  been  but  a little 
more  than  six  years  old  when  admitted.  And  in  a pleasant 
note,  in  answer  to  an  inquiry  upon  the  subject,  the  venerable 
and  excellent  Dr.  Jackson,  who  was  English  Preceptor  in 
1796,  says,  “the  studies  were  not  of  the  most  elevated  char- 
acter. I believe  that  all  my  pupils  had  learned  the  English 
alphabet  before  I saw  them.  I taught  spelling,  reading, 
writing,  English  grammar,  and  arithmetic,  and  perhaps,  to  a 
few  of  the  pupils,  some  of  the  higher  branches.” 

Public  examinations,  as  well  as  public  exhibitions  of  the 
students,  were  early  adopted. 

In  a public  notice  of  the  Academy,  June  25th,  1785,  it  is 
stated  that  “ the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Corporation  of  Leices- 
ter Academy  is  to  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  July,  when 
there  will  be  a public  Exhibition  of  the  performances  of  some 
of  the  students.” 

Accordingly,  on  Monday,  the  4th,  “ it  being  the  day  of  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Academy  in  Leicester, 
the  youth  of  that  seminary  entertained  a large  and  respectable 
audience  with  specimens  of  their  literary  improvements.” 

The  plan  of  these  does  not  seem  to  have  been  uniform  or 
established  by  the  Trustees  until  several  years  after  this  period. 

The  next  notice  that  I have  discovered  of  a public  exami- 
nation, was  in  October,  1785,  when,  as  is  stated,  “ on  Tuesday 
last  was  the  meeting  of  the  Trustees  and  Overseers  of  Leices- 
ter Academy,  at  which  time  the  youth  of  that  seminary  were 
examined  as  to  their  progress  in  classical  knowledge,  and  gave 
great  satisfaction  to  a number  of  respectable  gentlemen  who 
were  present.” 


21 


The  taste,  so  generally  prevalent  in  every  community  for 
dramatic  representations,  early  developed  itself  in  the  public 
exhibitions  of  this  academy. 

A venerable  gentleman,*  recently  one  of  the  trustees,  has 
told  me  that,  while  a member  of  the  academy,  which  must 
have  been  about  1790,  he  took  part  in  the  dramatic  perform- 
ances on  occasion  of  one  of  these  exhibitions,  which  occupied 
the  entire  day  and  evening,  and  in  which  pupils  of  both  sexes 
took  parts.  And  among  the  dramas  acted  on  the  occasion, 
was  Addison’s  Cato,  entire. 

Dr.  Pierce,  who  came  there  in  1793,  describes  one  of  these 
exhibitions.  “ Plays  were  acted  in  the  meeting-house,  which 
was  crowded  to  its  full  capacity.  Scenery  was  constructed. 
On  one  of  these  days,  I distinctly  recollect  a play  excited  great 
attention,  entitled  the  f Scolding  Wife,’  all  parts  of  which 
were  well  sustained,  but  the  heroine  of  which  acted  her  part 
to  universal  admiration.  At  that  time,  a Congregational  min- 
ister in  this  county  played  behind  the  scenes,  on  a viol,  the 
bass  of  a song  in  the  f Scolding  Wife,’  which  was  a compo- 
nent part  of  the  play.” 

The  account  which  I find  given  in  the  papers  of  the  day, 
of  the  exhibition  in  1793,  is  as  follows:  “May  31st,  on 
Wednesday  last  week,  the  Trustees  of  Leicester  Academy 
paid  their  annual  visit  to  that  institution.  The  students  of 
both  sexes  exhibited,  on  that  occasion,  a variety  of  theatrical 
representations,  interspersed  with  original  composition,  and 
vocal  and  instrumental  music.  The  performances  in  general 
were  highly  entertaining,  and  must  have  impressed  the  minds 
of  the  audience  with  sentiments  peculiarly  favorable  both  to 
the  performers  and  their  instructors.” 

These  occasions  were  made  agreeable  holidays  for  people  of 
this  and  the  neighboring  towns,  and,  to  a considerable  extent, 
have  continued  such  up  to  the  present  time. 

A public  taste  which  would  demand,  or  even  be  gratified, 
by  such  performances  on  the  part  of  pupils  of  a literary  semi- 


* Hon.  A.  Bigelow. 


22 


nary,  does  not  indicate  that  a very  true  estimate  was  enter- 
tained of  the  purposes  which  such  an  institution  should  aim 
to  accomplish  in  the  system  of  instruction  it  should  adopt. 

At  length,  the  subject  became  of  sufficient  importance,  in 
the  minds  of  the  trustees,  to  require  their  special  and  deliber- 
ate consideration.  Messrs.  Lincoln,  Allen,  and  Sumner, 
were  appointed  a committee  “ to  designate  in  general  the  sub- 
ject matter,  and  the  manner  of  performing  the  public  academic 
exhibitions,  as  also  the  general  expenses  of  the  public  enter- 
tainments on  these  occasions.” 

They  made  a report,  which  was  accepted,  in  October,  1795, 
“ that  the  exhibitions  aforesaid,  in  future,  consist  of  Greek, 
Latin  or  English  orations,  forensic  disputations,  dialogues 
upon  historical,  scientific,  sentimental,  or  moral  subjects,  and 
specimens  of  reading  in  the  English  language,  or  such  of  the 
above  as  may  comport  with  the  proficiency  of  the  pupils  in  liter- 
ature, and  a reasonable  length  of  time  for  the  performances.” 
The  next  direct  action  of  the  trustees  on  the  subject  was  in 
October,  1796,  when  they  made  provision  for  erecting  a stage 
for  the  performers  on  occasion  of  public  exhibitions. 

The  trustees,  at  the  same  time,  made  provision  for  two 
stated  meetings  of  the  body,  one  in  July,  and  the  other  in 
October,  “ and,  at  the  last  aforesaid  meetings,  there  shall  be 
an  examination  of  the  pupils  by  the  trustees.” 

This  is  the  first  action  of  the  trustees  that  I find  requiring 
a public  examination  of  the  students  by  the  trustees,  and  this 
was  limited  to  one  in  each  year. 

From  that  time  examinations  have  been  regularly  had  by 
the  trustees  or  committee  of  that  body,  increasing  in  number 
from  time  to  time,  till  they  are  now  had  at  the  close  of  each 
term  of  the  school. 

The  school  appears  to  have  been  destitute  of  anything  in 
the  way  of  “ apparatus  ” till  1798,  when  measures  were  taken 
by  the  trustees  to  purchase  a “ set  of  globes,”  a “ prospect 
glass,”  and  a “ microscope,”  and  to  ascertain  the  expense  of 
a telescope. 


Soon  after,  during  the  same  year,  a committee  were  author- 
ized “to  purchase  an  electrical  machine,  a thermometer,  and 
a set  of  instruments  for  surveying  land.” 

The  globes  and  telescope  have,  I believe,  come  down  to  the 
present  day,*  while  the  other  articles  have  long  since  become 
a matter  of  history,  though  the  thermometer  and  instruments 
for  surveying  have  been  in  use  within  the  memory  of  some 
whose  connexion  with  the  school  is  somewhat  modern. f 

It  is  not  easy  to  recall  the  text-books  that  have  been  used 
in  the  school,  in  anything  like  the  order  of  their  introduction. 
In  1796,  Pike’s  Arithmetic  was  the  standard  in  that  depart- 
ment. At  a subsequent  period,  Adams’  Arithmetic  was  con- 
siderably used,  and  this  was  succeeded  by  Webber’s,  which 
was  in  use  till  1815.  Alexander’s  Grammar,  I apprehend, 
was  the  text-book  for  some  years,  but  was  early  superseded 
by  Murray’s,  which  was  the  only  one  upon  that  subject  in 
use  for  many  years. 

How  early  Scott’s  Lessons  for  reading,  parsing,  etc.,  came 
into  use,  I am  unable  to  state ; but  I presume,  from  the  best 
information  I can  obtain,  it  was  adopted  early  in  the  present 
century,  and  justly  held  its  place  in  school  for  many  years. 

Some  of  the  higher  classes  made  use,  at  times,  of  some 
English  classic,  like  Cowper’s  Task,  for  exercises  in  parsing, 
and  as  a reading  book. 

The  academy,  by  the  way,  always  held  a respectable,  and, 
at  times,  a high  rank  in  the  department  of  Grammar. 

Blair’sPhetoric  was  early  a text-book  upon  that  subject. 

The  earliest  geography  of  which  I have  any  account,  as 
used  in  school,  was  “ Morse’s,”  what  was  called  “ Abridg- 
ment;” and  that  was  studied  and  recited  memoriter  without 
the  aid  of  maps.  This  mode  of  teaching  geography  was  in 
use  as  late  as  1810  and  ’ll,  up  to  which  time  I have  great 


* The  globes  were  in  use  in  1836,  and  it  was  then  voted  to  repair  them,  or  procure  others. 

1 1 shall  have  occasion  to  mention,  in  another  connexion,  the  purchase  of  a philosophical 
apparatus,  at  the  expense  of  $500,  in  1823. 

In  1848,  the  trustees  expended  $100  more  for  the  same  purpose. 


24 


doubt  if  an  atlas,  or  collection  of  maps,  had  ever  been  seen 
in  the  academy. 

About  the  year  1813,  Chemistry  began  to  be  studied  a 
little,  and  recitations  were  had  from  the  “ Conversations,”  the 
only  text-book  for  schools  then  accessible.  But  no  experi- 
ments or  illustrations  were  had,  except,  perhaps,  showing  how 
the  flame  of  a taper  would  be  extinguished  by  burning  it 
under  a tumbler  inverted  over  a cup  of  water. 

In  1815,  the  subject  of  making  this  a regular  study  in  the 
academy,  was  first  considered  by  the  trustees. 

In  what  I have  said  of  text-books,  I have  chiefly  confined 
myself  to  the  English  department.*  Of  the  Latin  department, 
I shall  have  to  speak  in  another  connexion. 

To  recur  to  the  public  exhibitions,  the  time  occupied  in 
them  was  at  length  found  necessary  to  be  limited  by  the  action 
of  the  trustees. 

In  1801,  they  provided  that  the  exercises,  upon  days  of 
exhibition  and  examination,  should  commence  at  10  o’clock 
A.  M.,  and  be  confined  to  a single  session. 

In  1802,  the  day  of  the  annual  exhibition  was  fixed  to  be 
on  Thursday  preceding  the  last  Wednesday  in  August,  instead 
of  varying,  as  it  had  done  before,  from  May  to  one  of  the 
summer  months. 

How  far  these  exhibitions,  as  a part  of  the  academical  exer- 
cises, were  expedient,  seems  to  have  been  a matter  of  grave 
doubt  and  discussion,  from  time  to  time,  from  the  foundation 
of  the  academy  to  the  present  time. 

In  1809,  a committee  which  had  been  raised  the  year  pre- 
vious, upon  the  subject,  proposed  that  the  school  should  be 
examined  at  the  end  of  the  fall,  winter  and  spring  terms,  by 
a committee  of  five  from  the  trustees,  and,  for  this  purpose, 
they  were  divided  into  three  standing  committees.  “ In 
respect  to  public  exhibitions,  they  have  contemplated  the 


* Perry’s  Dictionary  was  in  general  use,  until  superseded  by  Walker,  about  1808  or  ’10, 
though  Johnson’s  was  always  regarded  as  the  standard  for  spelling  and  definition  till  a much 
more  recent  period. 


25 


subject,  and  its  influence  on  the  immediate  improvement  of  the 
students,  and  upon  public  opinion,  and  they  are  constrained 
to  recommend  the  continuance  of  them.” 

Whenever  the  question  has  been  raised,  the  pressure  of 
the  popular  demand  for  something  like  a literary  holiday  in 
the  academy  has  been  acknowledged,  even  when  the  wisdom 
of  continuing  it  as  a school  ceremony  has  been  doubted. 

It  was  again  discussed  in  1816,  when  the  whole  subject  of 
“ making  further  provision  for  the  instruction  of  this  acad- 
emy ” and  “ the  expediency  of  dispensing  with  exhibitions  ” 
was  brought  before  the  board. 

It  was  again  voted  to  be  inexpedient  to  dispense  with  the 
exhibitions,  though  it  was  recommended  “ to  assign  parts  in 
these  exercises  to  those  scholars,  who  will  be  most  benefited 
by  public  speaking,  and  while  they  (the  government)  have 
some  regard  to  the  entertainment  of  a mixed  audience  in  the 
selection  of  pieces,  the  improvement  of  their  pupils  be  a 
primary  object.” 

In  1819,  in  order  to  carry  out  the  views  of  the  trustees,  in 
the  selection  of  the  pieces  to  be  spoken  at  the  exhibition,  a 
committee  of  that  body  was  raised  to  assist  the  preceptors  in 
making  selections.  History  does  not  record  the  success  of  the 
experiment.  But  I do  not  find  it  repeated. 

The  expense  of  these  exhibitions  until  1821  had  been  sus- 
tained by  the  students.  - Nor  were  they  inconsiderable,  since, 
among  other  contingent  charges,  it  was  always  deemed  essen- 
tial to  employ  a band  of  music  on  the  occasion. 

In  the  latter  year,  the  trustees  assumed  these  expenses  to  a 
considerable  extent. 

In  regard  to  the  text-books  and  mode  of  instruction  adopted 
in  the  Latin  department  of  the  academy,  these  were  of  course 
conformed  to  the  requirements  of  the  leading  colleges  in  New 
England.* 


*The  text-books  in  use  at  the  commencement  of  the  academy  were,  Latin  Grammar,  Corde- 
rius,  Erasmus,  Eutropius,  Cicero’s  Orations,  Virgil,  and  a Treatise  on  “ Making  Latin,”  Greek 
Grammar,  and  Testament. 


26 


For  some  years,  I am  led  to  infer  the  pupils  made  free 
use  of  translations  of  the  classic  authors,  but  they  had  been 
generally  disused  before  1810.  At  any  rate,  the  preceptors, 
after  that  period,  discouraged  the  use  of  them.  But  no  action 
was  taken  by  the  trustees  upon  the  subject  till  1815,  when 
they  formally  disallowed  them  as  being  “ unfriendly  to  a 
thorough  and  critical  knowledge  of  the  learned  languages.” 
The  restriction,  however,  did  not  extend  to  Corderius,  Erasmus, 
Eutropius,  “ or  books  of  that  description.”  In  a report  upon 
the  subject,  on  the  occasion  last  referred  to,  they  expressly 
recognize  the  doctrine,  that  “ the  prosperity  of  the  academy 
is  in  a great  measure  suspended  upon  its  public  reputation  for 
correct  and  thorough  classical  instruction,”  and  they  urge 
upon  the  preceptor  great  caution  in  recommending  pupils  for 
admission  into  the  colleges. 

For  several  years  previous  to  this  time,  the  text-books  in 
use  in  teaching  Latin,  were  Adams’  Grammar,  iEsop’s  Fables, 
Eutropius,  Virgil,  and  Cicero’s  Select  Orations.  In  Greek, 
Gloucester  Grammar,  Greeca  Minora,  Greek  Testament,  and 
portions  of  Graeca  Majora,  Ainsworth’s  Latin  Dictionary,  and 
Schreveli’s  Greek  Lexicon,  with  Latin  definitions,  were  the 
dictionaries  in  use. 

Up  to  18  IT,  the  division  of  the  academical  year  was  into 
quarters,  with  vacations  of  a fortnight  each.  But,  in  the  lat- 
ter year,  the  plan  was  adopted  of  having  but  three  terms.  It 
did  not,  however,  find  general  favor,  and,  after  a year,  the 
original  arrangement  was  resumed. 

The  hours  of  study  were,  from  time  to  time,  regulated  by 
rules  adopted  by  the  trustees.  It  was  originally  designed  that 
the  pupils  should  be  constantly  under  the  supervision  of  the 
teachers.  But,  from  a variety  of  causes,  the  stringency  of  the 
rule  was  relaxed,  till  the  custom  of  allowing  the  older  and 
more  advanced  scholars  to  study  in  their  own  rooms  became 
somewhat  general,  and  the  attention  of  the  trustees  was  called 
to  the  subject. 

After  fully  considering  the  matter,  they  came  to  the  conclu- 


27 


sion  that  permission  ought  not  to  be  granted  to  the  scholars 
“ to  study  in  their  private  rooms,  but  in  cases  of  necessity.” 
And  the  propriety  of  the  rule  is  too  obvious  to  require  illus- 
tration, except  in  cases  of  pupils  of  sufficiently  matured  judg- 
ment to  appreciate  properly  the  value  and  importance  of  time. 

The  number  of  hours  during  which  the  schools  should  be 
taught  were  fixed,  in  1820,  at  eight,  viz.,  from  eight  to  twelve 
in  the  forenoon,  and  from  two  to  six  in  the  afternoon.  In 
1884,  these  were  varied  to  from  half  past  eight  to  twelve,  and 
from  half  past  one  to  half  past  four,  except  in  Summer,  and 
then  from  two  to  five  P.  M.,  and  the  hours  of  study  in  the 
evening,  from  October  to  April,  from  seven  to  nine. 

The  system  of  public  examinations,  each  term,  by  commit- 
tees of  the  trustees  was  established  in  1819,  to  take  place  at 
the  close  of  the  term,  except  that,  in  the  summer,  when  it 
was  to  be  had  “ three  weeks  preceding  the  annual  exhibition, 
as  that  would  tend  to  prevent  an  unreasonable  devotion  of 
time  to  the  latter  object,  and  secure  more  attention  to  study 
during  the  greater  proportion  of  that  quarter.” 

It  has  been,  more  than  once,  incidentally  stated,  that  the 
pupils  of  the  academy  consisted  of  both  sexes.  This  has  been 
the  case  from  the  commencement  of  the  school.  The  trustees 
and  preceptors  seem  to  have  early  understood, — what  is  now 
so  well  settled, — that,  in  educational  training,  the  same  intel- 
lectual processes  were  Jo  be  pursued  with  the  one  sex  as  with 
the  other ; and  therefore  adopted  the  same  system  of  text-books 
and  instruction  for  each.  And  the  success  which  always  dis- 
tinguished this  system,  so  far  as  what  has  been  called  the 
“ weaker  sex  ” is  concerned,  fully  justified  the  wisdom  of  the 
measure. 

It  might  be  invidious  to  select  individual  cases  for  illustra- 
tion. But  it  may  not  be  misplaced  to  make  use  of  the  testi- 
mony of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pierce,  in  the  address  to  which  allusion 
has  been  made,  upon  this  subject.  Speaking  of  one  of  his 
female  pupils,  he  uses  the  following  language  : “ Though  in 
my  class,  while  I instructed  at  the  university,  were  Dr.  Chan- 


28 


ning,  Judge  Story,  and  other  respectable  scholars,  yet  I have 
been  in  the  habit  of  remarking  that  never  have  I known  one 
male  or  female  of  a more  extraordinary  mind  than  was  evinced 
by  this  gifted  young  lady.”* 

Though  the  female  pupils  pursued  with  quite  equal  suc- 
cess with  the  other  sex  the  studies  taught  in  the  English 
department,  it  was  not  till  a much  more  recent  period  that 
they  engaged  in  the  study  of  “ the  languages,”  which  has 
become  so  common,  especially  the  Latin. 

But  whoever  is  able  to  recall  the  course  of  instruction  in 
our  public  schools,  and  especially  of  female  education  in  New 
England,  for  something  more  than  a third  of  a century,  will 
understand  the  struggle  against  which  the  trustees  of  the 
academy  had  to  stand  to  render  the  system  of  instruction  of 
females  in  the  academy  more  “ popular.”  The  prevailing 
sentiment  in  the  public  mind  seemed  to  be  in  favor  of  schools 
where  “ accomplishments  ” and  the  “ polite  branches  ” should 
hold  a more  prominent  place  in  female  education. 

Many  were  the  boarding  schools  which  flourished  for  a 
while,  under  the  influence  of  this  sentiment,  and  many  were 
the  “wrought  samplers”  and  “ painted  mourning-pieces” 
which  were  hung  up  in  the  parlors  of  our  good  citizens,  as  a 
kind  of  certificate  that  their  daughters  had  shared  in  the  ben- 
efits  of  one  of  those  schools  that  once  obtained  a hold  upon 
the  public  mind,  where  the  acquisition  of  the  “solid”  branches 
of  learning  was  mingled  with  most  of  the  “fine”  and  “polite 
arts,”  and  the  whole  accomplished  in  an  incredibly  short 
period. 

Erom  1815  to  1819,  the  idea  of  introducing  some  change 
in  the  arrangement  as  to  the  female  pupils  of  the  school, 
seems  to  have  been  suggested  from  time  to  time,  till,  in  the 
latter  year,  a committee  of  the  trustees,  having  considered  the 
whole  subject,  made  a report,  which  put  the  question  at  rest. 

It  had  been  proposed  to  have  a separate  department  of  the 
academy  as  a district  school  for  females,  under  the  general 
superintendence  of  the  trustees. 

* Miss  Southgate,  (afterwards  Mrs.  Boyd,)  of  Scarboro',  Me. 


29 


The  committee  discourage  such  a separation  of  the  schools 
on  account  of  the  want  of  sufficient  funds,  but  do  not  enter 
into  the  question  of  how  far  it  is  expedient  to  separate  the 
sexes,  in  our  academies  and  high  schools,  which  has  of  late 
been  somewhat  discussed. 

The  custom  of  allowing  the  female  pupils  to  take  part  in 
the  exercise  of  declamation  was  discontinued  within  a few 
years  after  the  establishment  of  the  school. 

In  respect  to  the  moral  discipline  of  the  academy,  it  has 
always  been  the  aim  of  the  trustees,  to  fix  as  high  a standard 
as  can  reasonably  be  hoped  to  be  sustained  in  its  application. 
A code  of  rules  and  regulations  for  the  government  of  the 
school,  and  the  conduct  of  the  pupils,  was  early  adopted, 
which  has  been  modified,  from  time  to  time,  to  conform  to 
the  condition  and  wants  of  the  institution. 

Without  giving  these  in  detail,  it  may  be  stated  that  an 
attendance  of  the  pupils  upon  morning  and  evening  devotions 
in  the  academy,  and  the  public  religious  exercises  upon  the 
Sabbath,  and  days  of  public  fast  and  thanksgiving,  have  been 
uniformly  required.* 

The  penalties  attached  to  a violation  of  the  rules  and 
regulations  of  the  school  have  been  fines,  admonitions,  suspen- 
sions and  expulsions,  though  fines  or  expulsions  have  been  of 
rare  application  in  the  discipline  of  the  academy. 

In  1834,  there  was  a revision  of  these  laws,  in  which  the 
imposition  of  fines  was  abolished,  and  expulsion  adopted  by 
the  preceptors,  only  in  concurrence  with  a committee  of  the 
trustees. 

By  the  original  system  of  organizing  the  schools,  the  prin- 
cipal preceptor  was  understood  to  be  charged  with  the  general 


* From  the  erection  of  the  meeting-house  till  an  organ  was  obtained,  about  1826,  the  stu- 
dents occupied  the  seats  in  the  gallery,  from  the  center  of  the  front  around  to  the  center  of 
the  west  gallery.  After  that,  they  occupied  the  seats  in  the  east  gallery.  In  1802,  the  trustees 
hired  a seat,  for  the  English  preceptor,  in  a pew  in  the  gallery  belonging  to  N.  Beers,  overlook- 
ing the  students.  The  meeting-house  was  without  any  stove,  or  means  of  warming  it,  and  an 
extract  from  the  same  letter  already  quoted  from,  will  give  some  idea  of  what  “going  to 
meeting  ” then  was.  “I  shudder  now,  in  June,  with  the  cold,  while  thinking  what  I then 
suffered  on  the  Sabbath,  when  I was  posted  as  a sentinel,  in  the  north-west  corner  pew  in  the 
church,  to  observe  the  students’  conduct  in  the  time  of  worship.” 


30 


management  and  direction  of  the  institution,  although  I can 
find  few,  if  any,  instances,  where  the  Latin  preceptor  had 
occasion  to  interfere  with  the  discipline  of  the  English  depart- 
ment. Dr.  Jackson  incidentally  remarks  that,  while  he  was 
connected  with  the  academy,  “the  schools  were  conducted 
quite  independently  of  each  other.  I believe  Mr.  Adams 
never  entered  my  room,  and  that  I never  entered  his.”  “ He 
gave  me  his  advice  very  kindly,  but  I believe  that  he  had  no 
right  to  control  me ; certainly  he  never  did.” 

In  order,  however,  to  remove  all  questions  of  conflict  of 
jurisdiction,  the  subject  was  acted  upon  by  the  trustees  in 
1821,  when  it  was  expressly  declared  by  them,  that  it  was 
the  duty  of  the  principal  preceptor  to  superintend  the  govern- 
ment of  the  English,  as  well  as  the  Latin,  school ; to  arrange, 
direct  and  regulate  the  studies  of  the  English  students ; to 
acquaint  himself  with  their  proficiency,  by  occasional  exami- 
nations ; and,  in  common  with  the  assistant,  to  watch  over 
their  moral  and  general  deportment. 

The  assistant  had  authority,  concurrent  with  the  principal, 
to  preserve  order  in  the  English  school  when  under  his  im- 
mediate care,  and  to  inflict  such  punishments,  when  necessary, 
as  are  consistent  with  the  usages  and  laws  of  the  academy. 

Thus  stood  the  respective  powers  and  duties  of  the  princi- 
pal and  assistant  preceptors  until  1824,  when,  in  order  to 
conform  to  the  spirit  of  the  provisions  of  the  last  will  and 
testament  of  the  late  Mr.  Waters,  who  had  recently  left  a lib- 
eral donation  to  the  academy,  a new  system,  as  to  the  division 
and  management  of  the  schools,  was  adopted  by  the  trustees. 

The  institution  was  divided  into  an  upper  and  lower  school. 
The  upper  school  was  to  be  under  the  instruction  of  the  prin- 
cipal of  the  academy.  The  other  was  to  be  under  that  of  the 
preceptor  of  the  lower  school,  and  “ to  retain  the  same  powers 
and  to  hold  the  same  relations  to  each  other,  that  the  principal 
and  his  assistant  do  at  present.” 

The  upper  school  was  to  embrace  all  classic  studies  prepar- 
atory to  admission  into  colleges,  provided  the  student  was,  in 


31 


the  judgment  of  the  two  preceptors,  prepared  to  begin  Vir- 
gil, Cicero’s  Orations,  and  the  Greek  Testament. 

Pupils  in  the  English  studies  might  be  admitted  into  the 
upper  school  if  found,  upon  examination  of  the  two  precep- 
tors, well  acquainted  with  geography,  English  grammar,  and 
common  arithmetic. 

Reading  and  spelling  were  strongly  recommended  as  a daily 
exercise  in  the  lower  school,  and  as,  at  least,  a weekly  one  in 
the  upper  school. 

It  was  under  this  arrangement  that  Mr.  Richardson, 
the  Latin  preceptor,  was  declared  to  be-  the  principal  of  the 
academy. 

A list  of  text-books  was  adopted,  at  the  same  time,  for  the 
several  schools,  which,  though  rather  formidable  in  numbers, 
I copy  here,  as  showing  the  books  then  in  use  in  our  better 
classes  of  schools  : 

First  Class  Book,  Worcester’s  Ancient  and  Modern  Geogra- 
phy, Murray’s  Grammar,  Walker’s  Dictionary,  Colburn’s  and 
Adams’  Arithmetic,  Adams’  Latin  Grammar,  Liber  Primus, 
Viri  Romae,  Caesar’s  Commentaries,  Valpy’s  Greek  Gram- 
mar. 

In  the  upper  school,  Cicero’s  Select  Orations,  Clark’s  In- 
troduction, Ovid’s  Metamorphoses,  Sallust,  Graeca  Minora, 
Worcester’s  Geography,  Virgil,  Greek  Testament,  Neilson’s 
Greek  Exercises,  Butman’s  Greek  Grammar,  Lacroix’s  Arith- 
metic, Euler’s  Algebra,  Blair’s  Rhetoric,  Whelply’s  Com- 
pend  of  History,  Hedge’s  Logic,  Legendre’s  Geometry,  Flint’s 
Surveying,  Conversations  on  Intellectual  Philosophy,  Wil- 
kins’ Astronomy,  Conversations  on  Chemistry,  Watts  on  the 
Mind. 

These  evidently  do  not  constitute  a regular  or  required 
course  of  study,  but  are  designed  as  elementary  books  for  the 
various  pupils  who  might  resort  to  the  academy  for  longer  or 
shorter  periods,  and  in  view  of  a more  or  less  systematic 
course  of  instruction,  according  to  their  respective  opportu- 
nities or  purposes  for  an  education. 


32 


In  one  respect,  the  trustees  have  ever  shown  themselves 
liberal  in  their  policy  in  regard  to  the  school.  They  have 
always  supplied  an  adequate  number  of  teachers  to  meet  the 
occasions  of  the  pupils.  And  it  is  believed  that,  in  no  simi- 
lar institution,  has  there  been  a larger,  and,  as  a general  thing, 
more  competent  corps  of  instructors  in  proportion  to  the  num- 
ber of  its  pupils  than  that  which  this  academy  has  supplied. 

A brief  sketch  of  many  of  those  who  have  filled  the  place 
of  teachers  in  the  academy  will  be  found  in  another  chapter 
of  this  report. 

Some  practical  difficulties  having  arisen  in  carrying  out  the 
arrangements  as  to  an  “ upper  ” and  “ lower  ” school,  and 
thereby  conforming  to  the  clause  in  the  will  of  Capt.  Waters, 
which  appropriated  the  fund  thereby  created  “ for  the  purpose 
of  supporting  an  instructor  or  instructors  of  the  Congregational 
Calvinistic  order,  in  the  higher  branches  of  literature,”  in 
November,  1825,  the  trustees  made  anew  arrangement  in  the 
schools,  whereby  that  distinction  was  abolished. 

Instead  of  that,  there  were  to  be  two  instructors  statedly 
employed,  the  first  to  be  denominated  the  principal  preceptor, 
and  the  second  the  assistant  preceptor. 

The  business  of  the  instruction  of  the  school  was  delegated 
to  these,  with  the  understanding  that  the  principal  should  have 
the  general  superintendence  of  the  school  in  respect  to  govern- 
ment, and  the  division  of  the  respective  duties  of  the  two 
instructors,  subject  always  to  the  direction  of  the  trustees. 

From  that  time,  the  assistant  preceptor  has  been  considered 
as  appointed  upon  the  “ Waters  foundation.” 

Increase  S.  Smith  was  the  first  preceptor  who  received  this 
appointment,  the  trustees  having  voted  that  he  was  “ of  the 
Congregational  Calvinistic  order.” 

The  vexed  question  of  the  annual  exhibition  again  came  up 
before  the  trustees  in  May  of  this  year,  and  it  was  voted  to 
dispense  with  it,  and  a public  examination  substituted. 

In  May,  1827,  it  was  voted  that,  in  addition  to  the  public 
examination,  there  should  be  such  declamations  by  the  stu- 


33 


dents  as  the  preceptors  should  judge  proper.  And  the  same 
course  was  pursued  the  next  year. 

But  so  strong  was  the  public  impression  in  favor  of  some- 
thing like  the  former  exercises,  upon  the  day  of  the  annual 
exhibition,  that  they  were  at  last  restored,  except  that  the 
proportion  of  original  declamations  was  much  increased. 

A veiy  appropriate  and  pleasant  addition  to  the  public 
exercises  on  these  occasions  was  made  in  1840,  when  it  was 
voted  by  the  trustees  that  some  former  member  of  the  acad- 
emy should  be  annually  chosen  by  the  trustees  to  make  an 
address  at  the  annual  exhibition. 

This  custom  has  been  continued,  and  has  added  much  to 
the  interest  of  the  occasion,  as  the  names  of  those  who  have 
made  addresses  would  lead  one  to  suppose. 

The  first  of  these  was  Hon.  Charles  Allen.  In  1841,  Em- 
ory Washburn.  In  1842,  the  address  was  by  the  president. 
In  1844,  Hon.  Benjamin  E.  Thomas.  In  1845,  Hon.  Thomas 
Kinnicutt.  In  1847,  Bev.  Dr.  Pierce,  of  Brookline,  whose 
interesting  address  on  that  occasion  has  been  more  than  once 
alluded  to,  and  a copy  whereof  is  preserved  in  the  archives  of 
the  academy.  In  1848,  the  address  was  by  Hon.  Ira  M. 
Barton,  of  Worcester.  In  1849,  by  Hon.  Pliny  Merrick,  of 
Worcester.  In  1850,  by  William  Brigham,  Esq.,  of  Boston. 
In  1851,  by  Bev.  James  W.  Thompson,  D.  D.,  of  Salem.  In 
1852,  Dwight  Poster,  Esq.,  of  Worcester,  was  prevented,  by 
unavoidable  reasonsyfrom  making  the  address,  and,  in  1853, 
Hon.  Charles  Thurber  delivered  a poem  at  the  public  exhi- 
bition. In  1854,  Dwight  Foster,  Esq.  made  the  annual 
address. 

Instruction  in  French  had  been  introduced  into  the  acad- 
emy before  1828,  and  a regular  tuition  was  then  established 
for  it.  In  May,  1835,  the  trustees  voted  to  employ  a female 
teacher,  in  addition  to  an  assistant  English  preceptor,  making 
four  teachers,  besides  occasional  teachers  in  particular  branches. 
And  this  has  been  continued  to  the  present  time. 

To  secure  a respectable  standing  for  scholarship  in  the  Eng- 


34 


lish  department^  the  trustees,  in  1834;  adopted;  as  a regula- 
tion; that  no  one  should  be  received  who  could  not  read  the 
English  language  fluently,  write  a legible  hand,  parse  simple 
sentences  in  English  grammar,  and  was  not  versed  in  the  funda- 
mental rules  of  arithmetic,  and  the  elements  of  geography. 

Occasional  changes  were  made  in  the  text-books  used  in 
the  schools,  some  of  which  are  mentioned  in  the  records. 
Thus,  in  1836,  Andrews  and  Stoddard’s  Latin  Grammar,  in 
connexion  with  Gould’s,  was  introduced,  and  Burritt’s  Geog- 
raphy of  the  Heavens. 

In  1839,  Newman’s  Rhetoric,  Sophocles’  Greek  Grammar, 
and  Felton’s  Greek  Reader. 

In  1842,  Davis’  Surveying  instead  of  Flint’s. 

In  1843,  Colton’s  Greek  Reader  was  substituted  for  Fel- 
ton’s, and  other  changes  may  have  been  adopted. 


35 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  FUNDS  AND  REAL  ESTATE  OF  THE  CORPORATION,  WITH 

NOTICES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  BENEFACTORS  OF  THE  ACADEMY. 

As  the  first  donation  to  the  academy  consisted  of  real  estate, 
it  is  proper  to  speak  of  that  prominently,  in  giving  an  account  of 
the  funds  and  resources  of  the  academy,  although  the  subject 
has  been  briefly  mentioned  already,  in  a former  chapter. 

The  estate  given  by  Colonel  Crafts  and  Colonel  Davis,  as 
already  mentioned,  contained  one  acre  of  land,  which,  prior 
to  1765,  had  belonged  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  Roberts,  for  several 
years  the  settled  minister  of  Leicester. 

He  conveyed  it,  that  year,  to  his  successor,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Conklin.  In  1770,  he  conveyed  one-half  of  it  to  Ezekiel 
Fosgate,  who  erected  a small  building  upon  it  for  the  pur- 
poses of  a store.  This  was  the  first  store  ever  opened  in  the 
town. 

The  next  year,  Fosgate  conveyed  his  estate  to  Elijah  Har- 
rington, of  Worcester,  and,  the  year  following,  he  sold  the 
same  to  Joseph  Allen,  Esq.,  who  had  removed  from  Boston 
to  Leicester,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  that  town. 

The  next  year,  1774,  Mr.  Allen  conveyed  one-half  the 
estate  to  his  partner,  Henry  Bass,  of  Boston,  having  erected  a 
dwelling-house  upon  a part  of  the  land. 

In  1777,  they  conveyed  the  estate  to  Aaron  Lopez  who 
purchased  the  other  half  acre  of  Mr.  Conklin,  and  erected, 
partly  upon  both  parcels,  what  was  so  generally  regarded,  as 
has  been  said,  “ the  splendid  mansion,”  afterwards  used  for 
the  academy. 

The  conveyance,  by  the  administrator  of  Mr.  Lopez,  to 
Messrs.  Crafts,  Davis  & Sprague,  has  already  been  mentioned, 
as  well  as  the  conveyance  of  Mr.  Sprague  to  Colonel  Crafts, 


36 


and  the  subsequent  deed  of  the  same  from  Messrs.  Crafts  & 
Davis  to  the  trustees  of  the  academy,  on  the  18th  May,  1784. 

In  November,  1804,  Dr.  Austin  Flint  gave  the  academy 
a small  parcel  of  land  adjoining  their  other  estate,  of  the 
value  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  dollars,  containing  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four  rods ; and,  in  the  same  month,  sold 
and  conveyed  to  the  trustees,  for  the  sum  of  $150,  another 
parcel  adjoining  the  first,  containing  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
two  square  rods  of  land. 

A plan  of  the  land,  as  surveyed  by  John  Southgate,  Esq., 
accompanies  the  deed  from  the  estate  of  Mr.  Lopez  to  Colonel 
Crafts,  etc.,  and  is  found  upon  the  records  in  the  Registry  of 
Deeds. 

I transcribe  the  description  of  the  half  acre  once  owned  by 
Messrs.  Allen  & Bass,  as  contained  in  them  deed  to  Mr.  Lopez, 
partly  to  make  this  report  the  more  complete,  and  partly  that 
those,  familiar  with  the  present  situation  of  the  grounds  in 
front  of  the  public  buildings  in  Leicester,  may  judge  some- 
what of  their  condition  in  1777.  “ A certain  parcel  of  land 

in  Leicester,  etc.,  on  the  north  side  of  the  county  road,  east- 
ward of,  and  near  to,  the  meeting-house,  bounded  southerly,  by 
the  county  road,  six  rods  eastwardly  to  a heap  of  stones  ; from 
thence  by  land  of  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Conklin,  by  a line  run- 
ning N.  1°  E.  11  3-4  rods,  to  a heap  of  stones  on  a rock  ; 
thence,  turning  W.  1°  N.  5 1-4  rods  to  a stake  and  heap  of 
stones,  by  the  lane  leading  from  the  meeting-house,  to  the 
remains  of  a house  formerly  possessed  by  Israel  Parsons, 
deceased ; from  thence,  bounded  westerly  by  said  land  in  part, 
and  partly  by  the  “ training  field,”  to  the  S.  E.  corner  of  the 
place  whereon  the  old  school-house  stood,  and  containing  half 
an  acre  by  measure,  together  with  a dwelling-house  and  shop 
situate  thereon. 

The  consideration  mentioned  in  this  deed,  embracing  land, 
house,  and  shop,  was  £200,  or  six  hundred  and  sixty-six  dol- 
lars. Probably  tills  house,  erected  by  Mr.  Allen,  formed  a 
part  of  the  larger  structure,  erected  by  Mr.  Lopez,  in  1778. 


O *7 

o7 

These,  with,  a parcel  of  land  purchased  by  the  trustees  in 
1804,  for  the  purposes  of  the  academy,  constitute  the  lands 
belonging  to  the  corporation.  But  the  changes  that  have 
been  made  in  the  buildings  belonging  to  the  institution  will 
form  a part  of  the  history  of  its  funds. 

In  respect  to  the  funds  of  the  academy,  like  too  many  of 
the  public  institutions  of  our  country,  they  have  rarely  been 
adequate  to  meet  the  demands  which  the  public  have  made  upon 
those  who  have  charge  of  its  interests.  Indeed,  the  history  of 
the  institution  is  a history  of  struggles  which  its  trustees  have 
carried  on,  often  under  great  discouragements,  to  sustain  the 
usefulness  and  reputation  of  the  academy. 

I have  already  had  occasion  to  state  the  reluctance  of  the 
legislature  to  grant  an  act  of  incorporation  upon  the  petition 
of  Colonel  Crafts,  until  something  like  an  adequate  fund,  in- 
dependent of  the  real  estate,  was  provided. 

An  effort  was,  accordingly,  made  with  success,  to  raise  the 
sum  of  one  thousand  pounds,  wdiereupon  the  act  of  incorpo- 
ration was  granted. 

We  are  able  to  ascertain,  with  some  degree  of  accuracy, 
the  sources  from  which  this  amount  was  derived.  The 
promptness  with  which  the  £1,000,  required  by  the  Legisla- 
ture as  the  condition  upon  which  an  act  of  incorporation 
should  be  granted,  was  subscribed,  was  certainly  commend- 
able ; and,  considering  the  general  pecuniary  distress  through 
the  country,  was  creditable  to  the  donors.  The  petition  was 
presented  on  the  2d  February  ; subsequent  to  which  time, 
the  committee  upon  the  subject  made  their  report ; and  it  re- 
ceived the  action  of  both  bodies ; and  yet,  before  the  23d  of 
March,  the  requisite  amount  had  been  raised. 

The  Spy  of  that  date  states  that  this  sum  had  been  “ sub- 
scribed by  the  town  of  Leicester  and  a few  gentlemen  of  that 
and  this  place  ” (Worcester.) 

The  action  of  the  town  of  Leicester  upon  the  subject 
deserves  something  more  than  a passing  notice. 

Though  its  soil  was  rugged,  and  difficult  of  cultivation,  its 

3 


38 


inhabitants  were  chiefly  engaged  in  agriculture.  There  were 
no  manufactures  or  mechanical  employments  beyond  the  ordi- 
nary and  necessary  handicrafts  for  the  convenience  of  such  a 
community. 

It  ranked  only  as  the  twenty-first  town  in  the  county,  in  the 
scale  of  wealth  or  population,  and  the  one  hundred  and  eighth 
in  the  state.  It  had  borne  its  full  share  of  the  burdens  of  the 
war,  and,  beyond  the  taxes  which  had  been  levied  to  sustain 
the  war  and  pay  the  war  debt,  its  citizens  had  contributed,  in 
one  form  and  another,  over  eighteen  thousand  dollars  during 
the  last  three  years  of  that  struggle,  to  help  carry  it  on. 

Its  population  could  not  have  exceeded  ten  or  eleven  hun- 
dred, and  an  appeal  to  these,  with  their  limited  wealth  and 
exhausted  resources,  might  have  been  regarded  as  somewhat 
desperate.  But,  when  it  was  made,  it  found  the  people  of 
the  town  alive  to  their  interest,  and  willing  to  venture  upon 
the  exercise,  of,  to  say  the  least,  a doubtful  authority,  in  assum- 
ing the  contribution,  by  a tax,  of  a liberal  portion  of  the  requi- 
site sum. 

On  the  15th  March,  1784,  a town  meeting  was  held,  at 
which  the  following  resolution  was  adopted : “ Taking  into 
consideration  the  peculiar  advantages  arising  to  the  community, 
as  well  as  particular  societies,  by  encouraging  the  education 
of  youth  in  piety,  virtue,  and  the  several  branches  of  good 
literature  in  this,  our  rising  nation,  a proposal  for  establishing 
an  academy  in  this  town  being  laid  before  the  Great  and  Gen- 
eral Court  of  this  Commonwealth,  founded  by  the  generosity 
of  Ebenezef  Crafts,  of  Sturbridge,  and  Jacob  Davis,  of  Charl- 
ton, Esquires,  etc  it  then  proceeds  to  appropriate  “ the  sum 
of  £500,  of  this  State’s  consolidated  securities,  the  annual 
interest  thereof  to  be  applied  to  the  sole  use  of  educating 
youth  as  above  named,  so  long  as  said  academy  or  school  shall 
he  continued  in  this  town.  But,  upon  failure  or  removal  con- 
trary to  the  true  spirit  and  meaning  of  said  vote  of  the  town, 
then  the  money  or  sum  of  £500  be  refunded  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  said  town.” 


39 


And  the  Treasurer  was,  accordingly,  directed  to  subscribe 
that  amount  “ to  the  incorporation  of  said  academy.” 

I am  not  able  to  fix  the  names  or  amounts  of  those  who 
made  up  the  balance  of  the  £1,000.  But  we  have  the  names 
of  these,  and  other  donors  to  the  funds,  at  or  soon  after  its 
incorporation,  to  the  amount  of  £1,355,  including  the  above 
sum  of  £500,  of  which  £867  was  by  the  town  and  citizens  of 
Leicester. 

The  names  of  these  early  benefactors  of  the  institution  were 
the  Hon.  Moses  Gill,  who  gave  £150;  Thomas  Denny, 
Thomas  Newhall,  Rufus  Putnam,  and  Jeduthan  Baldwin, 
each  of  whom  gave  £100  ; Reuben  Swan  £50  ; John  South- 
gate,  Samuel  Denny,  Joseph  Allen,  Timothy  Bigelow,  each 
£30;  Isaiah  Thomas,  £20;  Caleb  Amidown,  £18;  Samuel 
Green  and  Timothy  Paine,  £15  ; William  Watson,  £12  ; 
Samuel  Green,  Peter  Taft,  Samuel  Watson,  John  Pierce,* 
Phinehas  Jones,  each  £10.  I have  already  mentioned  the 
gift,  subsequently  made  by  Dr.  Austin  Flint,  of  land  of  the 
value  of  $160.  And,  in  1786,  Mr.  Gill  made  a second  dona- 
tion in  books  to  the  value  of  $260. 

The  value  of  the  bell,  which  was  given  by  Mr.  Stickney,  I 
have  no  means  of  stating. 

Of  several  of  these  donors,  I shall  have  occasion  to  speak 
in  another  connection,  as  Messrs.  Gill,  Denny,  Newhall,  Put- 
nam, Allen,  and  Flint,  were  members  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees. - 

Of  several  of  the  others,  I have  been  able  to  obtain  brief 
notices,  though  I can  but  regret  that,  of  some  of  them,  so 
little  is  known. 

Colonel  Jeduthan  Baldwin  deserves  a prominent  place  in 
these  notices  on  many  accounts. 

He  became  a contributor  to  the  fund,  in  the  sum  above 
stated,  in  1786,  to  enable  the  institution  to  struggle  with  the 
embarrassments  that  grew  more  oppressive,  as  the  currency  of 

* I have  not  ascertained  the  residence  of  Mr.  Pierce,  though  I am  led  to  believe  he  was  a 
citizen  of  Worcester. 


40 


the  country  depreciated,  and  the  general  stagnation  of  busi- 
ness paralyzed  the  industry  of  the  citizen.  For  this  generous 
and  opportune  assistance,  the  trustees  passed  a vote  of  thanks, 
May  23d,  1787. 

Colonel  Baldwin  belonged  to  Brookfield.  He  was  born  in 
1731,  and  died  June  4th,  1788.  A sermon,  commemorative 
of  his  character,  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Foster,  of 
New  Braintree,  which  was  published. 

He  held,  for  many  years,  a prominent  station  in  public  life. 
As  a military  man,  his  reputation  was  distinguished.  In  the 
French  war,  at  an  early  age,  he  held  the  commission  of  cap- 
tain. 

He  took  an  active  part  in  the  measures  of  the  Revolution, 
and  was  a member  of  the  first  Provincial  Congress  that  con- 
vened in  October,  1774.  Its  records  shew  that  he  took  a prom- 
nent  part  in  its  proceedings. 

He  was,  moreover,  a member  of  the  convention  of  the  com- 
mittees of  correspondence  that  met  at  Worcester,  in  August, 
1774,  being  associated  with  Judge  Jedediah  Foster,  and  Cap- 
tain Phinehas  Upham  on  that  occasion. 

The  importance  of  these  trusts  will  be  understood  when  it 
is  remembered  that,  to  these  congresses  [and  conventions,  the 
government  of  the  province  was  practically  committed  for  sev- 
eral months  after  October,  1774,  during  which  time  the  oppo- 
sition to  the  mother  country  was  assuming  its  form  and  con- 
sistency. 

He  early  took  part,  as  a military  man,  in  the  revolutionary 
struggle,  and,  upon  the  organization  of  the  continental  forces, 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  colonel,  in  which,  it  is  said,  “ his 
conduct  procured  for  him  the  co-operation  of  the  first  charac- 
ters, and  received  the  general  approbation  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow-soldiers  and  citizens.*  ” 

From  a notice  of  him,  in  the  Spy  of  the  19th  June,  1788, 

* In  General  Lincoln’s  expedition  against  Shays,  in  the  winter  of  1786-7,  Colonel  Baldwin 
commanded  a body  of  volunteers  from  Brookfield,  of  fifty  men,  under  command  of  Colonel 
Crafts. 


41 


I quote  that  lie  was  “ not  only  a soldier  and  a patriot,  but  he 
was  a Christian.”  “ He  was  a pleasant  companion  and  a 
faithful  friend,” — “ the  virtues  of  humanity  were  his.” 

Surely  his  name  should  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance 
by  Leicester  Academy  for  his  friendship  to  her  in  her  weak- 
ness, and,  in  a sketch  of  her  history,  he  deservedly  holds  a 
place. 

Reuben  Swan  was  of  Leicester,  a native  of  that  town. 
Though  in  no  way  distinguished  among  her  citizens,  he  was 
always  respected  as  an  upright  and  honest  man,  whose  influ- 
ence and  example  were  always  in  the  right  direction.  For 
many  years,  he  kept  a respectable  public  house  in  the  town,* 
but  the  latter  part  of  life  was  spent  in  independent  retirement 
upon  his  farm  close  by  the  village.f 

His  first  wife  was  Rachael  Putnam,  of  Sutton,  and,  among 
his  children,  was  the  wife  of  Hon.  N.  P.  Denny,  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  academy,  and  Samuel  Swan,  Esq.,  of  Hub- 
bardston,  already  mentioned  as  one  of  the  earliest  scholars  in 
the  academy.  Mr.  Swan  died  May  2d,  1825,  aged  77. 

John  Southgate  was  a native  of  Leicester,  and  a grandson 
of  the  first  settler  of  the  name  in  that  town,  who  came  from 
England,  in  1715.  The  Hon.  Robert  Southgate,  of  Scar- 
boro’,  was  an  elder  brother  of  the  subject  of  this  notice. 

Mr.  Southgate  was  a highly  intelligent  farmer,  and  was 
much  employed  in  public  business,  and  as  a surveyor,  con- 
veyancer, and  general  manager  of  business  for  his  towns- 
men. Like  so  many  of  his  neighbors,  he  was  early  active  in 
the  measures  of  the  Revolution,  and  became  adjutant  of  a regi- 
ment of  “ minute-men  ” raised  in  and  around  Leicester,  of 
which  Colonel  William  Henshaw  was  commander. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  alarm  of  the  19th  April,  1775,  he 
proceeded  forthwith  to  Cambridge,  where  he  remained  with 
the  army  a few  weeks,  till  the  new  organization  of  the  troops 
rendered  his  further  services  unnecessary. 


* The  house  stood  where  the  house  of  Hiram  Knight,  Esq.,  now  stands, 
t His  house  was  the  same  now  occupied  by  J.  A.  Smith,  Esq. 


42 


He  was  an  extensive  owner  of  land  upon  the  Penobscot 
River,  near  Oldtown,  and  was  drowned  in  a branch  of  that 
river,  near  the  last  mentioned  town.  His  death  was  attended 
with  circumstances  indicating  that  it  was  an  act  of  violence. 

The  Maine  branch  of  the  family  has  been  numerous  and 
distinguished  in  church  and  state.  A son  of  John  South- 
gate,  of  the  same  name,  died  under  peculiar  circumstances, 
in  the  lifetime  of  his  father,  in  1804.  Two  only  of  the 
family  now  remain  in  Leicester.  He  resided  in  the  easterly 
part  of  the  town,  a short  distance  from  the  great  post  road, 
as  now  travelled,  and  was  possessed  of  a handsome  estate. 

He  was  cut  off  in  the  vigor  of  manhood,  but  left  his  bene- 
faction to  the  academy  among  the  evidences  of  his  public 
spirit  as  a citizen. 

Samuel  Denny  was  a native  of  the  town,  and  son  of  Dan- 
iel Denny,  the  first  settler  of  the  name  in  Leicester,  who 
came  from  England  with  Richard  Southgate,  in  1715.  He 
was  born  in  1731,  and  was  brother  of  Thomas  Denny, 
who  was  a leading  man  in  the  province  prior  to  the  revolu- 
tion, and  died  greatly  lamented,  in  1774. 

Colonel  Samuel  Denny  was  a farmer,  but  was  often  called 
into  public  life,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  revolution. 

He  was  first  commissioned  as  a captain  in  1767,  but,  in 
1774,  was  lieutenant  colonel  of  a regiment  of  minute-men 
which  was  raised  in  Leicester  and  vicinity  about  the  com- 
mencement of  the  revolutionary  war. 

At  the  alarm  of  the  19th  April,  1775,  he  repaired  to  Cam- 
bridge, where  he  remained  till  the  troops  had  been  newly 
organized.  Among  other  services  he  performed,  he  com- 
manded a regiment  of  militia  in  1777,  in  an  expedition  to 
Clavarack  in  New  York. 

In  1788,  he  was  a member  of  the  convention  that  adopted 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  having,  the  year  pre- 
vious, represented  the  town  in  the  General  Court. 

He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six,  in  1817,  leaving  several 
children,  one  of  whom  married  T.  W.  Ward,  of  Shrews- 


43 


bury.  Sheriff  of  the  County.  Another  was  the  Hon.  N.  P. 
Denny,  and  another  the  father  of  Henry  A.  and  Joseph  A., 
members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

He  was  a friend  and  patron  of  the  academy,  as  was  mani- 
fested by  his  contribution  to  its  funds. 

Timothy  Bigelow  belonged  to  Worcester,  and  filled  a more 
important  place  in  history  than  either  of  the  persons  already 
named.  Originally  a blacksmith,  he  was  found  a ready  and 
strong  champion  for  the  rights  of  the  colonies,  and  became  an 
honored  associate  with  the  leading  patriots  of  the  day.  To 
speak  of  all  he  did  as  a public  citizen  would  be  to  recite  the 
early  movements,  public  and  private,  in  the  county,  towards 
resisting  the  encroachments  of  the  Crown,  his  marching  at 
the  head  of  his  company  of  minute-men  on  hearing  of  the 
battle  of  Lexington,  his  leading  one  of  the  divisions  as  major 
of  the  troops  in  that  memorable  expedition  up  the  Kennebec, 
and  against  Quebec,  his  being  made  prisoner  in  the  attack 
upon  that  city,  his  being  promoted,  on  being  exchanged,  to  the 
office  of  lieutenant  colonel,  and  subsequently  to  that  of  colo- 
nel, and  to  follow  him  at  the  head  of  the  15th  Massachusetts 
regiment  of  the  line  to  Saratoga,  Rhode  Island,  Verplank’s 
Point,  Yalley  Forge,  and  West  Point,  in  all  which  fields  he 
bore  an  honorable  part. 

On  his  retiring  from  the  army,  he  returned  to  Worcester, 
and  partially  resumed  his  former  avocation.  He  was  one  of 
the  original  grantors-of  the  town  of  Montpelier  in  Vermont. 

But,  though  his  affairs  were  somewhat  straitened,  and  he 
encountered  embarrassments  in  resuming  a life  for  which  his 
connexion  with  the  army  for  seven  or  eight  years,  had,  in  a 
measure,  unfitted  him,  he  was  one  of  the  earliest  contributors 
to  the  funds  of  the  academy,  bearing  testimony  thereby  of  his 
being  as  ready  and  willing  to  make  sacrifices  to  sustain  a free 
government  as  he  had  been  to  achieve  its  establishment  in  the 
field. 

His  descendants  have  been  among  the  distinguished  men 
of  Massachusetts. 


44 


His  son  Timothy,  afterwards  of  Medford,  was  many  years 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  an  eminent  lawyer, 
whose  son,  John  P.,  was,  for  some  time.  Secretary  of  the 
Commonwealth,  afterwards  Mayor  of  Boston,  etc.,  and  whose 
daughter  married  the  Hon.  Abbott  Lawrence,  late  American 
Minister  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  A grandson  of  Colonel 
Bigelow  is  now  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

Colonel  Bigelow  was  a native  of  Worcester,  the  son  of  Daniel 
Bigelow,  and  died  March  31st,  IT 90,  at  the  age  of  50. 

His  intellect  was  of  a high  order,  and  joined,  as  it  was,  to 
an  ardent  temperament,  a generous  spirit,  and  the  dignity 
and  grace  of  manner  of  an  accomplished  soldier,  it  gave  him 
a leading  rank  and  position  among  the  men  of  ’76.* 

Isaiah  Thomas  was  one  of  the  earliest  friends  of  the  acad- 
emy, and,  to  the  hour  of  his  death,  regarded  it  with  interest, 
as  was  manifested  by  a generous  legacy  in  his  last  will. 

From  a brief  memoir  of  him  in  the  History  of  Worcester,  I 
learn  that  he  was  a native  of  Boston,  and  was  bom  January 
19th,  1749. 

Bound  an  apprentice  to  a printer  before  six  years  of  age, 
his  early  education  was  neglected,  and  only  supplied  by  his 
own  personal  exertion  and  perseverance. 

He  worked,  for  some  time,  at  his  trade  in  Halifax,  went 
thence  to  Portsmouth,  X.  H.,  and  then  returned  to  Boston. 
He  was  again  absent  at  the  south,  but  did  not  fix  himself  at 
any  place  as  a permanent  residence.  And,  having  returned 
to  Boston,  he  there  established  the  “ Massachusetts  Spy,” 
March  7th,  1771. 

He  was  himself  one  of  the  strongest  writers  for  the  paper, 
which  early  took  high  and  independent  ground  in  the 
approaching  controversy  upon  the  subject  of  the  duties  and 
rights  of  the  colonies. 

In  consequence  of  the  hostility  of  the  government,  he  was 


* For  this  sketch  of  Colonel  Bigelow,  as  well  as  for  many  other  facts  in  this  report,  I am 
indebted  to  the  excellent  History  of  Worcester,  by  the  late  Wm.  Lincoln,  Esq..,  whose  accuracy 
and  labor  have  saved  me  much  time  and  trouble  in  gathering  materials  for  this  work. 


45 


induced  to  remove  his  paper  to  Worcester  early  in  1775. 
In  September,  of  that  year,  he  was  appointed  postmaster. 

He  became  a very  extensive  book  publisher,  and  had  sev- 
eral large  bookstores  ; among  them,  one  in  New  Hampshire, 
one  in  New  York,  and  one  in  Maryland. 

He  established  and  sustained  several  periodical  publica- 
tions, which  were  distinguished  for  the  ability  of  their  con- 
tributors. 

In  1802,  he  gave  up  his  extensive  business,  as  printer 
and  publisher,  and  retired  with  a fortune.  In  1810,  he  pub- 
lished his  elaborate  work,  the  History  of  Printing. 

In  1812,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Justices  of  the 
Court  of  Sessions,  and  held  the  office  two  years. 

He  was  the  founder  of  the  American  Antiquarian  Society, 
to  which  he  was  a munificent  benefactor  during  his  lifetime, 
and  by  his  last  will. 

He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  from  Dartmouth 
College  in  1814,  and  LL.  D.  from  Alleghany  College,  in  1818. 

He  died  April  4th,  1831,  at  the  age  of  82.  One  of  his 
grand  daughters  is  the  wife  of  one  of  the  judges  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  who  was  fitted  for  college  at  the  academy, 
and  a grandson,  who  was  fitted  for  college  at  the  academy,  is 
also  a Judge  of  the  same  Court. 

His  friendship  to  the  academy  continued  to  the  last,  and 
by  his  will,  he  left  pecuniary  legacies  to  the  institution, 
amounting  to  $4,686.36,  besides  some  lands  in  Maine  and 
Vermont. 

Caleb  Amidown  belonged  to  Charlton,  and  was  of  a class 
of  men  which  were  once  scattered  through  the  country,  whose 
independence  of  thought  and  opinion  gave  character  and  con- 
sistency to  the  public  sentiment  of  the  community  at  large. 
Though  these  men  had  little  other  training  than  the  develop- 
ment which  circumstances  produced,  the  lack  of  education 
was  more  than  supplied  by  the  strong  common  sense  which 
had  been  disciplined  in  the  school  of  necessity. 

Though  the  more  immediate  sphere  of  Mr.  Amidown  was 


46 


circumscribed  within  the  limits  of  a single  town,  yet  bis  influ- 
ence was  felt,  and  bis  name  and  character  were  known,  through 
a much  wider  circuit.  And  as  an  early  benefactor  of  the 
academy,  his  memory  should  be  preserved  in  the  annals  of  its 
struggles  and  success.  He  was  born  in  1736,  in  the  town  of 
Dudley,  but  lived  most  of  his  life  in  Charlton. 

He  taught  school  in  early  life,  and  was  afterwards  much 
employed  as  a land  surveyor,  and  as  such,  was  engaged  by  the 
government,  in  surveying  the  confiscated  estates  of  the  “ refu- 
gees,” in  the  revolution.  For  many  years  in  succession,  he 
was  a member  of  the  legislature,  and  as  such,  was  a strong  sup- 
porter of  the  government  during  the  “ Shay’s  war,”  as  it  was 
called.  Among  other  responsible  offices  he  was  called  to  fill, 
was  that  of  “ Excise  Master,”  for  the  county  of  Worcester, 
after  the  close  of  the  revolution. 

Mr.  Amidown  was  a lineal  descendant  of  the  French 
Huguenots,  who  fled  to  this  country  after  the  taking  of 
Kochelle,  and  arrived  in  Salem  in  1630.  He  died  in  1799, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-three. 

Samuel  Green,  called  in  the  record  “ Captain,”  to  distin- 
guish him  from  his  son  of  the  same  name,  also  a subscriber 
to  the  funds  of  the  institution,  belonged  to  Leicester.  They 
were  both  farmers,  living  in  the  south  part  of  the  town,  and 
descendants  of  Samuel  Green,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Leicester. 

Captain  Green  was  more  generally  known  as  “ Deacon,”  he 
having  been  a worthy  officer  in  the  Baptist  Church  in  the 
southerly  part  of  that  town. 

He  was  a man  of  firmness  and  intelligence,  and  his  name 
is  frequently  found  upon  the  committees  who  were  appointed 
previous  to  and  during  the  revolution,  to  draw  instructions  to 
the  representatives  of  the  town  in  the  Provincial  Congress. 
He  died  Feb.  20th,  1811,  aged  eighty-one. 

Peter  Taft  was,  I believe,  from  Uxbridge,  and,  from  1781 
to  ’85,  kept  a public  house  in  Leicester,  in  the  house  kept 
for  many  years  by  Mr.  Swan. 


47 


He  removed  from  Leicester  after  ceasing  to  keep  a public 
house,  and  died  in  Uxbridge. 

William  Watson  was  of  Leicester,  born  in  1745,  in  Bar- 
rington, R.  I. 

He  was  a substantial  and  respectable  farmer,  married 
Susannah  Bullock,  of  Rehoboth,  1769,  and  raised  up  a family 
of  children,  all  of  whom  have  removed  from  Leicester.  His 
residence  was  about  a mile  from  the  academy,  on  the  road 
leading  to  Charlton,  where  he  died,  March  13th,  1828,  aged 
eighty-three. 

Samuel  Watson  was  also  of  Leicester,  and  lived  in  the 
westerly  part  of  the  town.  He  married  Ruth  Baldwin  of 
Spencer,  in  1772.  One  of  his  daughters  married  the  Hon. 
James  Draper,  of  Spencer,  and  one  of  his  sons  still  lives  in 
Leicester. 

Phineas  Jones  was  of  Worcester,  and  resided  upon  the 
great  post-road  leading  to  Leicester,  where  he  kept  a public 
house. 

Timothy  Paine  belonged  to  Worcester.  He  was  a leading 
and  prominent  citizen  of  that  town,  and  I am  indebted  to  Mr . 
Lincoln  for  this  notice  of  him.  He  was  born  in  Bristol,  R. 
I.,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  in  1748.  He  held, 
at  different  times,  the  offices  of  Clerk  of  the  Courts,  Register 
of  Probate,  Register  of  Deeds,  Councillor  under  the  Province 
Charter,  a Mandamus  Councillor,  in  1747,  and,  besides  these, 
was  Selectman,  Town  Clerk,  and  Representative  of  the  town, 
showing  the  estimate  in  which  he  was  held  in  this  community. 

“ Solid  talents,  practical  sense,  candor,  sincerity,  affability, 
and  mildness,  were  the  characteristics  of  his  life,  which  closed 
July  17th,  1793,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.” 


48 


At  the  first  meeting  of  the  trustees,  they  voted  to  accept 
subscriptions  in  public  securities,  and  appointed  a committee 
to  prepare  and  send  circular  letters  to  the  selectmen  of  the 
several  towns  in  the  county,  soliciting  aid  by  subscriptions  in 
money,  or  public  securities. 

It  was  the  original  design  of  the  trustees  that  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  pupils  should  be  gratuitous.  But,  from  an 
apprehension  that  the  income  of  the  funds  might  prove  insuffi- 
cient to  defray  the  expenses  of  instruction,  it  was  voted  that 
the  deficiency  should  be  made  up  by  tuition,  at  the  rate  of  one 
shilling  per  week,  for  those  attending  the  principal,  and 
nine -pence  for  those  who  belonged  to  the  English  depart- 
ment. 

In  August,  of  the  same  year,  subscription  papers  were  sent 
to  the  several  clergymen  in  the  county,  to  be  presented  to 
their  congregations,  for  aid  to  the  academy.  And,  in  the 
same  year,  the  legislature  granted  it  the  aid  of  a lottery,  a 
very  common  mode  of  raising  money  in  that  day,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  repairing  its  buildings,  and  making  necessary  addi- 
tions to  the  same. 

Xot  content  with  all  these  efforts,  the  trustees,  in  1785, 
took  it  upon  themselves  to  make  personal  solicitations  of  indi- 
viduals, for  contribution  to  the  funds. 

The  moneys  which  had  been  subscribed  by  the  town  and 
sundry  individuals  of  its  inhabitants  in  1784,  do  not  seem  to 
have  been  paid  until  July  of  the  following  year  ; for  I find  a 
vote  at  that  time  adopted,  that,  “ whereas  the  town  of  Leices- 
ter have  bestowed,  to  the  use  of  the  academy,  the  sum  of 
£500,  and  divers  individuals  of  the  same  town  have  respect- 
ively given  sums  of  money  for  the  use  aforesaid,  upon  this 
condition,  viz.:  that  said  academy  should  be  and  remain  in 
the  town  of  Leicester,  aforesaid,  therefore  that  the  treasurer 
be,  and  he  is  hereby  empowered  and  directed  to  give  receipts 
to  the  several  donors  aforesaid,  agreeably  thereto,  and  that 
the  principal  of  the  several  sums  aforesaid  should  revert  and 
be  refunded  to  the  several  donors  aforesaid,  and  their  respect- 


49 


ive  heirs  and  successors,  if,  at  any  time,  the  academy  afore- 
said should  be  removed  from  the  town  of  Leicester.” 

In  July,  1786,  the  amount  of  funds  of  the  academy  was 
£1128  10s.  in  public  securities,  £85  14s.  1 l-2d.  interest 
in  arrear,  and  $433.85  in  “ Pierce’s  certificates,”  the  nature 
or  value  of  which  is  not  stated. 

This,  however,  was  merely  the  nominal  value  of  these 
funds,  for  such  was  the  fluctuating  character  of  the  public 
securities  that,  with  all  the  effort  on  the  part  of  the  gov- 
ernment to  sustain  their  credit,  they  were  constantly  depre- 
ciating. “New  tenor  ” bills  were  worth,  in  1781,  but  one 
quarter  as  much  as  silver  in  the  market,  while  the  value 
of  “ old  tenor  ” bills  was  not  more  than  one  to  forty.  And, 
in  1786,  the  fluctuation  was  so  rapid  that  a person  was 
appointed  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Leicester  to 
report  weekly  the  value  of  paper  money  and  public  secu- 
rities. 

It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  events  which  soon  after 
resulted  in  what  is  known  as  Shay’s  Insurrection  had  been 
developing  themselves  for  some  time.  And,  as  we  shall 
have  occasion  to  see,  the  condition  of  the  national  finances 
was  such  that  the  funds  of  the  academy  were  found  inad- 
equate to  meet  the  current  expenses  of  the  institution. 

It  was  only  by  a constant  struggle  that  the  trustees  kept 
it  alive.  __ 

The  building  of  the  academy  was,  from  the  first,  incon- 
venient, and  but  poorly  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  the 
school.  In  1786,  the  trustees  provided  so  far  towards  rem- 
edying this  defect  that  they  adopted  measures,  and,  in  part, 
procured  materials,  for  building  a more  convenient  house. 
But  they  were  compelled  to  abandon  the  enterprise,  and 
sold  these  materials. 

Contributions  to  the  amount  of  £834  were  obtained  during 
the  year  1786,  which,  I suppose,  were  included  in  the  sums 
already  mentioned.  Of  these,  £367  were  from  individuals 


50 


in  Leicester,  and  the  balance  from  gentlemen  from  other 
towns. 

Still  the  institution  was  in  debt ; and,  in  July,  1787,  a 
committee  was  raised  to  devise  means  by  which  the  arrears 
into  which  its  finances  had  fallen  might  be  discharged.  The 
committee  reported  that  they  had  already  expended  £40 
beyond  their  income,  and  recommended  that  one  preceptor 
should  be  dispensed  with,  and  the  tuition  of  the  pupils  should 
be  raised. 

The  funds,  in  October,  1787,  consisted  of  £1128  10s.  in 
Cf  State  securities,”  £99  12s.  8 l-4d.  interest  in  arrear,  and 
$850  in  “ Pierce’s  certificates.” 

In  consequence  of  these  embarrassments,  and  the  reduced 
number  of  students,  Mr.  Stone,  the  principal,  was  allowed 
absence  from  duty,  and  the  school  went  on  under  the  charge 
of  Mr.  Crosby  alone. 

The  next  year,  1788,  the  treasurer  was  instructed  to  dis- 
pose of  the  depreciated  interest  upon  the  securities  held  by 
him  to  enable  him  to  pay  the  outstanding  demands  against 
the  corporation,  so  far  as  the  proceeds  would  go. 

At  their  annual  meeting,  in  1789,  the  trustees  took  meas- 
ures to  represent  the  condition  of  the  institution  to  the  pub- 
lic through  the  newspapers  in  Boston  and  Worcester.  But,  in 
October,  although  nominally  possessed  of  public  securities,  and 
“Pierce’s  certificates”  to  the  amount  of  £1534  13s  11  3-4d., 
in  consequence  of  the  extent  to  which  these  had  depreciated, 
and  the  small  number  of  its  pupils,  together  with  the  amount 
of  debt  which  they  had  already  incurred,  it  was  voted  that  it 
was  not  “ prudent  to  make  further  provision  at  present  for  an 
instructor  or  instructors,  unless  other  means  can  be  obtained 
for  its  support.” 

As  a last  resort,  a committee  was  raised  to  consider  the 
expediency  of  removing  the  institution  from  Leicester,  and 
to  ascertain  what  encouragement  could  be  obtained  for  such 
removal,  in  the  way  of  subscriptions,  or  proposals  from  towns 
and  individuals. 


51 


The  academy  had  come  to  a crisis.  Further  progress  seemed 
hopeless.  The  meeting  of  the  trustees  was  adjourned  for  a 
month,  and  the  steward  was  requested  to  remain  in  the  build- 
ing, with  an  offer  that,  if  he  should  be  no  longer  employed 
in  that  capacity,  he  might  occupy  it  free  of  rent,  until  their 
annual  meeting  in  May  then  next. 

In  November,  ’89,  the  adjourned  meeting  was  held,  when 
the  trustees  declared  it  was  their  intention,  when  seeking 
proposals  in  respect  to  the  future  location  of  the  academy,  to 
embrace  the  town  of  Leicester.  And  the  consideration  of  its 
removal  was  postponed  for  the  present. 

A proposal  was,  at  the  same  time,  made  to  the  town  of 
Leicester,  that  the  trustees  would  employ  a preceptor  for  the 
term  of  one  year,  if  the  town  would  assume  the  responsibil- 
ity of  his  salary,  so  far  as  the  deficiency  of  the  tuition  of  the 
scholars  might  be. 

This  proposition  was  accepted  by  the  town,  and  the  sum 
of  £50  was  voted  for  the  purpose  of  making  up  the  salary 
of  the  preceptor,  if  so  much  should  be  necessary  beyond  the 
amount  received  for  tuition.  And  Mr.  Sumner  was  accord- 
ingly paid  in  part  for  his  services  as  preceptor,  the  following 
year,  from  the  treasury  of  the  town. 

This  was,  indeed,  a dark  hour  in  the  history  of  the  acad- 
emy. Sixty  pounds  a year,  $200,  was  the  utmost  the  trus- 
tees dared  to  offer  as  a salary  to  the  preceptor,  and  even  this 
sum  was  beyond  their  ability  to  pay. 

This  was  during  that  gloomy  period  of  the  history  of  the 
Commonwealth,  and  the  country  just  prior  to  the  adoption 
of  the  Federal  Constitution,  when  public  credit  was  bankrupt, 
and  individual  confidence  and  enterprise  were  paralyzed. 

The  horrors  of  a civil  war  had  been  just  escaped,  but  the 
government  and  its  subjects  were,  alike,  poor,  and  its  councils 
were  distracted. 

The  adoption  of  the  constitution  was  at  once  felt  in  all  the 
interests  of  the  Commonwealth ; confidence  revived ; credit 
was  restored  ; business  started  into  new  life  ; and  the  cause 


53 


of  education  shared  in  the  general  impulse  which  this  event 
gave  to  the  prosperity  of  the  country. 

The  trustees,  in  1791,  applied  to  the  legislature  for  per- 
mission to  raise  £600  by  means  of  a lottery,  to  enable  them 
to  pay  off  their  debts,  and  relieve  the  institution  from  the 
embarrassments  which  had  been  occasioned  by  the  deprecia- 
tion of  their  funds. 

At  that  day,  the  true  character  of  lotteries  never  seems  to 
have  suggested  itself  to  moralists  or  legislators.  Bad  in 
morals,  and  unwise  in  economy,  they  were  resorted  to  with- 
out hesitation  or  scruple  as  a means  of  raising  money  for  the 
most  sacred  and  noble  purposes,  by  appealing  to  that  gam- 
bling spirit  which  is  so  universally  prevalent,  and  playing 
upon  the  cupidity  and  weakness  of  a class  of  citizens  who 
ought  to  be  protected,  by  the  law,  against  their  own  improv- 
idence, instead  of  being  tempted  into  courses  which  nothing 
but  legislation,  and  the  purposes  sought  to  be  accomplished, 
would  render  respectable. 

The  best  men  in  the  land  were  constituted  managers  of  these 
schemes,  and  churches  were  built,  and  colleges  endowed,  by 
moneys  thus  raised. 

The  lottery  was  granted,  and,  after  a long  delay,  and  no 
inconsiderable  difficulty,  $1,419.22  found  its  way  into  the 
treasury  of  the  academy,  as  the  proceeds  of  the  scheme. 

In  1793,  the  legislature  made  a grant  of  a township  of 
land  in  Maine  to  the  academy,  a part  of  which  was  sold  in 
1798,  and  a part  the  year  following,  and  $9,200  was  thereby 
realised. 

In  1794,  the  state  of  the  funds  shewed  State  securities 
held  by  the  trustees  to  the  amount  of  £1,565  12s  7 l-4d, 
with  outstanding  debts  due  them  £426  12s  3 l-2d,  while 
they  stood  debtors  to  the  treasurer  for  payments  advanced  by 
him  in  specie  on  their  account,  £66  11s. 

From  this  time  the  pecuniary  condition  of  the  institution 
began  to  mend.  In  1796,  it  had  £1,565  11s.  7 l-4d.  in  State 
securities,  and  £717  10  l-2s.  in  specie.  Five  pounds  was  added 


53 


to  the  salary  of  each  of  the  preceptors ; the  trustees  began  to 
take  measures  for  the  erection  of  a new  building,  and  provided 
a stage  for  the  annual  exhibitions,  at  the  expence  of  £2  3s  Id. 

In  1797,  while  the  State  securities  remained  the  same,  the 
specie  value  of  the  other  securities  held  by  the  treasurer  had 
increased  to  £2,752  12s.  l-2d.  making,  with  arrears  of  interest, 
a total  of  £4,519  11s.  4 3-4d. 

In  1798,  the  treasurer’s  statement  is  exhibited  in  the  form 
of  federal  money,  and  presents  the  amount,  in  that  form,  of 
$15,367.93. 

The  funds  continued  to  increase  from  that  time  onward, 
till  1804,  when  they  had  amounted  to  $16,703.68. 

Measures  had  been  adopted,  as  has  already  been  stated,  from 
time  to  time,  from  an  early  period,  to  supply  the  defects  in 
the  accommodations  for  the  school  hv  altering  and  enlarging 
the  academy  building.  An  act,  granting  a lottery  “ for  the 
repairing  of  Leicester  Academy,  and  making  additional  build- 
ings thereto,”  was  passed  in  June,  1785,  limiting  the  sum  to 
be  raised  to  £600,  and  constituting  James  Allen,  Thomas 
Xewhall,  and  Thomas  Denny,  the  managers. 

In  January,  ’86,  a committee  was  raised  to  draw  a plan  for 
a new  building  “ upon  a construction  as  they  shall  judge  the 
most  proper,  convenient  and  elegant,  considering  the  means 
provided  for  the  purpose.” 

The  same  month,  a plan  was  presented  and  accepted,  for 
such  a building,  seventy-eight  feet  long,  thirty-six  wide,  two 
stories  high,  with  posts  twenty-two  feet.  The  school-room 
to  be  thirty- six  by  eighteen  feet,  and  a hall  thirty-six  by 
twenty-six  feet. 

But,  in  October  following,  a new  committee  on  the  subject 
of  erecting  a new  house  was  raised.  No  report  was  made 
until  December  1799,  when  it  was  recommended  to  erect  a 
brick  house  eighty-two  by  forty  feet,  three  stories  high. 

This  report,  slightly  modified,  was  accepted,  and  measures 
were  taken  to  ascertain  the  cost  of  brick,  etc.,  for  the  work. 

The  next  October,  the  plan  of  the  building  was  recoin- 

4 


54 


mitted,  with  a view  of  making  some  alterations  therein,  and  a 
new  committee  appointed  to  ascertain  the  cost  of  materials, 
etc. 

This  committee  on  the  plan  recommended  the  one  originally 
adopted,  except  some  slight  difference  in  the  height  of  the 
building,  and  measures  were  adopted  for  procuring  a work- 
ing plan  and  specifications,  that  a contract  might  be  entered 
into  for  its  erection. 

Nothing,  however,  was  actually  done  upon  the  subject ; 
and  when,  in  November,  1802,  a special  meeting  of  the  trus- 
tees was  held  to  consider  the  subject  of  a new  building,  the 
only  vote  adopted  was  to  put  the  present  building  into  “ decent 
and  comfortable  repair.” 

The  original  plan  of  erecting  a brick  structure,  had  been 
abandoned,  and  in  August,  1803,  the  trustees  directed  such 
of  their  number  as  resided  in  Leicester,  to  obtain  the  plan  of 
a building  of  wood,  and  an  estimate  of  its  expense. 

In  November,  of  that  year,  a plan  was  proposed,  but  no 
estimates  of  expense  were  furnished.  In  January,  1804,  a 
new  report  was  made  in  favor  of  a building,  eighty-seven  by 
thirty-five  feet,  with  posts  twenty-six  feet  high,  with*  a pro- 
jection forty  feet  in  length,  four  feet  in  front ; and  estimates 
of  expense,  both  in  wood  and  brick,  were  furnished. 

The  trustees  voted  that  the  building  should  be  of  wood, 
and  chose  a committee  to  enter  into  a contract  for  the  same, 
at  not  exceeding  $7000. 

This  committee  consisted  of  Nathaniel  Paine,  Joseph  Allen, 
Thomas  Denny,  Ebenezer  Adams,  and  Aaron  Bancroft. 

The  plan  of  the  building  was  drawn  by  the  aid  of  Band 
White,  an  architect,  at  an  expense,  which  is  stated  for  the 
purpose  of  a comparison  with  modern  prices,  of  $9.84.* 

Another  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Denny,  Howe, 
Adams,  Bancroft,  and  Stedman,  was  appointed,  to  locate  the 


* Mr.  White  belonged  to  Leicester,  and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight,  September  20th,  1809, 
and  was  spoken  of,  in  the  papers  of  the  day,  as  one  of  “the  best  mechanics  in  Worcester 
County.” 


new  building,  and  purchase  as  much  land  adjoining  that, 
belonging  to  the  trustees,  as  might  be  necessary  to  accommo- 
date it. 

Under  this  vote,  land,  of  the  value  of  $700,  was  purchased 
of  Mr.  Dali,  of  Boston,  in  1804.*  And  Messrs.  Denny, 
Adams,  and  Moore,  were  a new  committee,  to  select  the  site 
for  the  new  building. 

Measures  had  been  so  far  matured  in  May,  1805,  that,  on 
the  14th  of  that  month,  a public  ceremony  was  had  of  laying 
the  corner-stone  of  the  new  academy,  'which  was  attended  by  a 
large  concourse  of  people.  A procession  was  formed  on  the 
common  in  the  following  order,  viz.  First.  Artificers 
employed  in  the  erection  of  the  building.  Second.  The 
corner-stone  drawn  by  seventeen  horses.  Third.  A band  of 
music.  Fourth.  The  President  of  the  board, f the  building 
committee,^  and  the  trustees.  Fifth.  The  magistrates  of 
the  vicinity,  the  selectmen  of  Leicester,  the  citizens,  and  last, 
the  students  of  the  academy. 

In  this  order  the  procession  moved  through  the  street  to 
the  site  of  the  building,  where  the  master  workman  deposited 
the  stone  in  its  place.  And  the  president,  declaring  the 
design  of  the  building,  commended  it  to  the  Divine  favor. 

The  procession  then  moved  to  the  meeting-house,  -where 
the  exercises  consisted  of  music,  prayer,  etc. 

The  papers  of  the  day  confirm  the  juvenile  impressions  of 
an  eye-witness,  that  the  occasion  was  one  of  interest  and 
imposing  effect.  And  as  the  scene  comes  back  from  the  sleep 
of  half  a century,  the  stately  form  of  the  venerable  president, 
surmounted  by  an  immense  white  wig,  and  triangular  cocked 

* This  parcel  lay  directly  east  of  the  land  given  by  Colonels  Crafts  and  Davis,  and  contained 
half  an  acre.  It  belonged,  previous  to  1788,  to  Joseph  Sargent,  and  in  that  year  was  con. 
veyed  by  John  Southgate,  his  administrator,  to  Elijah  Dix,  subject  to  the  right  of  Mr.  Sargent’s 
widow,  to  dower  in  the  same.  The  same  year,  Dix  conveyed  it  to  Oliver  Smith,  of  Boston, 
who,  in  1796,  conveyed  it  to  William  Dali,  of  Boston,  and  he,  in  November,  1804,  conveyed  it 
to  the  trustees  of  the  academy.  In  all  these  conveyances,  a small  shop,  standing  on  the 
premises,  known  as  “ Perrin's  Hatter's  Shop,”  was  excepted. 

t Rev.  Dr.  Sumner. 

+ These  were  Messrs.  Denny,  Adams,  Moore,  Paine  and  Howe. 


56 


hat,  the  dignified  bearing  of  the  other  members  of  the  board, 
the  numerous  crowd  of  well-dressed,  quiet,  respectable 
citizens,  from  this  and  the  neighboring  towns,  as  they  moved 
in  a long  array  to  the  inspiring  strains  of  music,  rise  in  the 
memory  with  a freshness,  which  many  more  recent  and 
important  incidents  can  hardly  awaken. 

The  annual  exhibition  was  that  year  omitted 

Dr.  Flint  generously  gave  a parcel  of  land  adjoining  that 
purchased  of  Mr.  Lopez’s  estate,  as  has  been  stated,  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  new  academy.* 

Such  was  the  progress  in  the  work  of  the  building,  that,  in 
January,  1806,  the  rooms  in  it  were  assigned,  the  rents  fixed, 
and  provision  made  for  selling  the  old  building. 

The  new  building  was  three  stories  in  height,  surmounted 
by  a neat  belfry  and  cupola,  and  presented  a handsome,  well- 
proportioned  facade  and  elevation.  Its  position  was  elevated, 
and,  in  its  architectural  proportions  and  effect,  its  exterior  was 
a creditable  work.  Of  the  thoroughness  or  fitness  of  the 
workmanship,  for  the  comfort  of  its  inmates,  those  who  ever 
occupied  any  of  its  rooms,  and  carried  on  the  hopeless  attempt 
to  get  the  mastery  of  the  cold  winds  that  were  rushing  in  at 
every  crack,  could  bear  testimony. 

There  were  sixteen  of  these  rooms,  besides  the  school  room 
and  hall  over  it,  which  occupied  the  entire  front  of  the  main 
body  of  the  building,  and  the  dining  room  in  the  rear  of  the 
school  room,  and  of  the  same  length. 

Six  of  these  rooms  were  in  each  end  of  the  building,  and 
the  other  four  in  the  two  stories  over  the  dining  room.  One 
of  these  rooms  w~as  assigned  for  the  use  of  the  English  Pre- 
ceptor, twelve  for  the  scholars,  and  the  remainder  for  the  use 
of  the  steward. 

At  the  same  meeting  in  January,  arrangements  were  made 
for  dedicating  the  house  by  appropriate  services,  to  consist 
of  a prayer  by  the  president,  and  an  oration  upon  education 

* A small  parcel  of  land  on  which  a part  of  the  barn  of  the  academy  stood,  was  purchased  in 
November,  1825,  for  the  sum  of  $8. 


57 


by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bancroft,  to  be  accompanied  by  suitable 
music. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1806,  a very  appropriate  day  for  such 
a ceremony,  the  dedication  of  the  house  took  place,  accord- 
ing to  the  previous  arrangement,  to  the  acceptance  of  a large 
assembly,  who  convened  to  witness  the  exercises. 

These  took  place  in  the  following  order : A procession, 
consisting  of  a band  of  music,  the  students,  preceptors,  and 
trustees  of  the  academy,  was  formed  at  the  old  academy,  and 
moved  to  the  new  one,  where  formal  possession  was  taken  of 
the  building  by  the  trustees,  which  was  followed  by  an 
address  of  the  president. 

Another  procession  was  formed,  consisting  of  the  band, 
students,  preceptors,  and  trustees  of  the  academy,  donors  to 
its  funds,  selectmen  of  Leicester,  civil  and  military  officers, 
and  citizens,  and  repaired  to  the  meeting-house,  where,  after 
prayer  by  the  president  and  singing  by  a choir,  an  oration 
was  delivered  by  Rev.  Dr.  Bancroft.  This  was  followed  by 
other  appropriate  music,  after  which  the  trustees,  donors,  and 
invited  guests,  dined  together  in  the  new  academy. 

The  address  by  Dr.  Bancroft  was  characterized  by  taste 
and  good  sense ; and  a vote  of  thanks  was  adopted  by  the 
trustees  to  the  president  for  his  appropriate  address,  and  to 
the  orator,  with  a request  of  copies  of  their  productions  for 
publication ; and  the  same  were  published. 

The  defective  manner  in  which  the  new  academy  was  built, 
was  a source  of  constant  expense  and  inconvenience  to  the 
trustees,  as  long  as  it  stood  ; and  every  effort  to  render  it 
comfortable  and  secure  was  unavailing. 

The  old  academy  buildings  were  disposed  of  at  auction  for 
$217,  and  the  old  store  adjoining  them  for  $6.50,  show- 
ing to  what  degree  of  dilapidation  these  buildings  had  reached 
before  a new  academy  was  provided.  The  purchaser  was 
Col.  Thomas  Denny,  who  removed  the  wings  or  ends  of  the 
building  on  to  the  south  street,  and  fitted  them  for  dwelling- 


58 


houses,  where  they  remained  till  recently ; but  the  main 
body  of  the  building  was  entirely  taken  down. 

The  cost  of  the  new  academy,  exclusive  of  the  land,  was 
found  to  be  $9,054.36. 

The  trustees,  in  November,  1809,  undertook  to  recover  of 
the  contractors,  for  the  erection  of  the  new  academy,  damages 
for  its  defective  construction,  but  with  what  success  does  not 
appear  by  the  records. 

Among  the  buildings  originally  belonging  to  the  trustees 
was  a long,  low  structure,  which  had  been  occupied  as  a store 
by  Daniel  McFarland,  Esq.,  and  stood  east  of  the  old  acad- 
emy, close  by  the  highway,  and  in  which  Mrs.  Joseph  Sar- 
gent held  a right  of  dower. 

In  1810,  they  thought  best  to  dispose  of  this  building,  and 
in  1812,  the  same  was  sold  and  removed  on  to  the  “ County 
Road,”  so  called,  where  the  same  now  stands,  having  been 
converted  into  a dwelling-house  by  Luther  Ward. 

In  order  to  present  this  part  of  the  report  in  connected 
order,  I would  add  that,  after  struggling  along  till  1832,  in 
their  endeavors  to  render  the  academy  building  comfortable 
and  convenient,  the  trustees,  in  June,  of  that  year,  unani- 
mously voted  to  dispose  of  the  same,*  and  erect  a new 
buildinsr. 

O 

Gov.  Lincoln,  Messrs.  Denny,  Burnside,  Allen,  and  Mixter 
were  chosen  a building  committee.  Mr.  Elias  Carter  was 
employed  as  the  architect,  and  on  the  25th  of  December, 
1833,  the  present  academy  was  completed  and  dedicated  for, 
use. 

The  exercises,  on  this  occasion,  consisted  of  prayer  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Stone,  the  vice  president  of  the  trustees,  and  addresses 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Allen  and  Mr.  Wright,  the  principal  preceptor, 
the  latter  of  which  was  published,  together  with  a brief 
nistory  of  the  academy,  f 

* The  old  building  was  sold  to  Benjamin  N.  Child,  for  §400. 

t This  history  I have  had  frequent  occasions  to  refer  to.  It  was  prepared  under  direction 
of  the  building  committee,  by  rote  of  the  trustees. 


59 


This  building  was  of  brick  ; the  main  part  42  by  40  feet, 
with  wings  each  30  feet  square.  The  first  story  of  the  main 
building  was  appropriated  to  two  school  rooms.  The  entire 
cost  of  the  w^ork  was  about  $10,000.* 

Notwithstanding  the  care  and  skill  employed  in  the 
arrangement  and  construction  of  the  building,  it  was  found  to 
be  practically  inconvenient  in  some  respects.  And  when,  by 
the  munificent  donation  of  Mr.  Smith,  and  the  other  benefac- 
tions to  the  funds  of  the  academy  induced  thereby,  had  placed 
the  trustees  in  a condition  to  remedy  these  defects,  several 
material  alterations  in  the  building  were  made  in  its  interior 
construction,  and  the  main  body  of  it  enlarged  at  a cost  of 
about  $4200. 

By  this  alteration,  better  accommodations  for  school  and 
recitation  rooms  were  obtained,  and  a very  beautiful  hall  in 
the  second  story  provided  for  lectures  and  general  meetings 
of  the  students  on  occasions  which  call -together  the  friends  of 
the  institution.  The  walls  of  this  hall  are  appropriately 
decorated  by  portraits  of  several  of  the  distinguished  benefac- 
tors of  the  institution,  which,  it  is  hoped,  will  be  hereafter 
multiplied  as  a suitable  recognition  of  the  memory  of  those 
whose  bounty  has  given  to  it  its  means  of  so  far  meeting  the 
wants  of  the  community. 

Upon  the  completion  of  these  alterations  and  enlargements, 
an  address  in  every  way  suited  to  the  occasion  was  delivered 
by  Mr.  Washburn,  the  principal  preceptor,  which  was  pub- 
lished. The  re-dedication  of  the  house  took  place  on  the 
26th  of  October,  1853,  in  which  the  president,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Bardwell,  Hon.  Mr.  Kinnicutt,  and  Mr.  Washburn,  took  part 
in  addition  to  the  address  of  the  principal,  the  exercises  being 
in  the  new  hall  of  the  institution.  Since  these  alterations, 
there  is  little  to  desire  in  the  way  of  accommodation  for  the 
ordinary  wants  of  an  academy.  And  it  is  to  be  hoped  that 

* An  addition  to  the  main  building  was  found  necessary,  and,  in  1834,  provision  was  made 
for  erecting  it  at  an  expense  not  to  exceed  $1200,  and  the  same  was  accordingly  done. 

In  1836,  a vote  was  passed  to  add  a.cupola  to  the  building,  and  at  an  expense  not  to  exceed 
$300. 


60 


the  friends  of  the  institution  may  hereafter  find  a more  useful 
and  beneficial  application  of  money  than  has  been  found 
necessary  during  so  much  of  its  existence,  in  fitting  and 
repairing  the  buildings  in  which  its  operations  have  been 
carried  on. 

To  resume  the  history  of  the  funds,  it  was  found  that  there 
remained,  after  the  payment  of  the  expenses  attendant  upon 
the  erection  of  the  new  academy,  in  1806,  $8992.21. 

This  sum  grew  less  for  several  successive  years  after  1807. 
But,  in  1814,  the  principal  fund  amounted  to  $9000,  and  the 
arrears  of  interest  to  $486.40.  In  1816,  the  principal  had 
increased  to  $9866.60,  and,  in  1818,  a committee  was  raised 
to  obtain  more  funds  “ for  promoting  the  usefulness  and  rep- 
utation of  the  academy.” 

The  Hon.  Mr.  Allen  resigned  the  office  of  treasurer,  which 
he  had  so  long  and  so  honorably  held,  in  November,  1819, 
when  it  was  found  that  there  were  $9966.60  principal,  and 
$482.94  interest  in  arrears  in  his  hands. 

This  gradually  increased,  so  that,  in  1822,  the  fund 
amounted  to  $10,400.81. 

This  increase,  however,  was  not,  from  the  ordinary  accu- 
mulation of  interest  above  the  annual  expenditure,  on  account 
of  the  institution.  In  1811,  Capt.  Thomas  Newhall  left 
a legacy  of  $1000  to  the  corporation,  and  the  interest  of 
another  $1000  to  be  annually  expended  in  defraying  the 
tuition  of  children  in  Leicester,  living  more  than  one  mile 
from  the  academy.  The  money  from  the  first  of  these  leg- 
acies was  received  by  the  academy  in  1814,  as  is  stated  in 
the  brief  sketch  of  Leicester  Academy  prepared  by  the  Hon. 
Mr.  Bigelow,  and  published  in  connexion  with  the  address 
of  Mr.  Wright. 

From  the  same  source,  it  would  seem  that  the  appeal 
made  by  the  trustees,  in  1818,  was  not  entirely  fruitless, 
as  the  sum  of  $150  was  given  in  January,  1819,  by  Alpheus 
Smith,  and  $50  by  Hon.  Dwight  Foster.  This  was  followed. 


61 


in  1822,  by  donations  from  Henry  Sargent,  Esq.,  of  $178.65  ; 
Hon.  Nathaniel  P.  Denny,  $100  ; Dr.  Austin  Flint,  $100  ; 
James  Smith,  Esq.,  $55. 

In  1823,  the  Commonwealth  gave  the  institution  a small 
estate  in  Paxton,  formerly  the  property  of  Archibald  McDon- 
ald, which  had  escheated  to  the  State,  of  the  value  of  about 
$400,  which  was  afterwards  realized  to  them  in  the  sale 
thereof  to  Gardner  Wilson  in  1825. 

The  year  1823  may  be  regarded  as  the  turning  point  in  the 
history  of  this  institution,  when,  by  the  liberal  bequest  of 
Captain  Israel  Waters,  of  Charlton,  it  was  placed  in  a condi- 
tion to  meet  the  new  demands  that  were  about  to  be  made 
upon  it  to  keep  pace  with  the  schools  and  other  institutions 
in  the  Commonwealth. 

With  the  constant  tax  to  which  the  trustees  had  been  sub- 
jected to  keep  their  buildings  in  tolerable  repair,  and  their 
inability  to  build  new  ones  ; with  the  improved  condition  of 
the  common  schools,  which,  in  a few  years  after,  became  an 
object  of  such  general  interest,  which  must  materially  have 
withdrawn  students  from  the  academy,  unless  a correspond- 
ing advance  were  made  in  the  instruction  furnished  by  this 
academy,  it  is  not  difficult  to  see  that  this  was  a turning 
crisis  in  its  affairs. 

But  the  same  Providence  that  had  hitherto  sustained  it 
through  adversity  as  well  as  prosperity,  was  pleased  to  incline 
the  heart  of  an  excellent  man  to  make  the  academy  an 
object  of  his  bounty,  and  to  save  it  from  that  fate  which 
so  strongly  threatened  it. 

Before  speaking  more  at  large  of  the  legacy  of  Captain 
Waters,  I may  recall  a donation  to  the  academy,  the  same 
year,  of  $432,  by  sundiy  individuals,  mostly  of  Leicester. 

The  object  of  the  gift  was,  to  supply,  in  some  measure, 
the  want  of  a philosophical  apparatus  for  the  academy ; and 
in  obtaining  the  subscription,  no  one  was  more  active  than 
J ames  Smith,  Esq.,  who  has  already  been  alluded  to 


The  names  and  purposes  of  the  donors  are  contained  in 
the  following  subscription  paper,  viz. : 

“ Leicester,  August  12th,  1823. 

“ We,  whose  names  are  imdersigned,  feeling  desirous  to  aid  the  cause  of 
science,  and  feeling  also  deeply  interested  in  the  prosperity  of  the  academy 
in  Leicester,  of  which  town  we  are  inhabitants,  and  believing  that  both  these 
ends  may  be  promoted  by  procuring,  for  the  use  of  that  institution,  an  appa- 
ratus for  illustrating,  by  experiments,  the  principles  of  natural  philosophy, 
do  agree,  for  this  purpose,  to  pay  the  sums  set  opposite  our  names  to  the 
trustees  of  Leicester  Academy,  on  demand,  upon  the  following  terms  and 
conditions,  viz. : The  money  subscribed  shall  be  expended  in  the  purchase 
of  such  articles  of  a philosophical  and  astronomical  apparatus  as  a majority 
of  the  subscribers  shall  elect,  proper  regard  being  had  to  the  wishes  and 
opinions  of  said  trustees.  The  apparatus  thus  purchased  shall  be  and  remain 
to  the  use  of  the  academy,  under  the  direction  of  the  trustees,  so  long  as 
the  academy  shall  remain  located  in  Leicester.  And,  in  case  of  the  removal 
of  the  academy  from  the  town  of  Leicester,  the  property  in  said  apparatus 
shall  revert  to  the  subscribers,  their  heirs  or  assigns. 

“ It  is  understood,  as  the  wish  of  the  subscribers,  that  the  object  and 
terms  of  their  subscription  should  be  recorded  in  the  records  of  said  academy.” 

The  paper  was  headed  by  the  name  of  Alpheus  Smith, 
with  a subscription  of  $50.  Henry  Sargent  subscribed  $40. 
John  A.  Smith  $30.  Phinehas  S.  (Thomas)  Denny,  Isaac 
Southgate,  Nathaniel  P Denny  each  $25.  Horace  Smith 
$15.  Horace  Me  Farland,  Whittemore  & Howard,  John 
Woodcock,  Adeline  Denny,  Emory  Washburn,  Cheney 
Hatch  and  Edward  Flint  each  $10.  Eeuben  Merriam, 
Samuel  D.  Watson,  John  Nelson,  Mr.  Winslow  of  Portland, 
Daniel  P.  Haynes,  Joseph  D.  Sargent,  Lyman  Waite,  Daniel 
Upham,  Thomas  Bottomly,  Joshua  Lamb,  William  Sprague, 
Barnard  Upham,  Abram  Howe  and  John  Sargent  each  $5. 
Joshua  Murdock  $4.  William  Newhall,  Hiram  Knight, 
Harvey  Tainter,  Bobert  Watson,  Increase  S.  Smith  and 
Ebenezer  Dunbar,  each  $3,  and  Harry  Ward,  Benjamin 
Conklin,  Jr.,  Hemy  A.  Denny,  Joseph  A.  Denny,  Hori 
Brown,  Abel  Bartlett,  Daniel  Kent,  Emory  Drury,  Jona. 
Trask,  Amos  Whittemore,  Hosea  Goldthwaite,  William 
Henshaw,  and  James  B.  Whitcomb,  in  various  sums. 


63 


The  name  of  James  Smith  is  not  upon  the  above  paper, 
but  as  the  whole  apparatus  purchased  amounted  to  over  $500, 
and  the  above  subscriptions  show  an  aggregate  of  $432  only, 
there  is  good  reason  to  suppose  that  the  difference  was  supplied 
from  his  bounty. 

In  1827,  Professor  Farrar,  of  Harvard  University,  made  a 
donation  to  the  academy,  of  a series  of  text-books  on  natural 
philosophy,  called  the  “ Cambridge  Course  ” on  that  subject, 
which  the  trustees  duly  acknowleged  in  a note  of  thanks  to 
that  eminent  philosopher  and  mathematician. 

Of  the  several  persons  above  named,  little  more  could  be 
said,  than  that,  according  to  their  means,  they  were  good 
citizens,  and  the  friends  and  supporters  of  good  order,  and  our 
social  institutions. 

Henry  Sargent  was  a native  of  Leicester,  the  son  of 
Joseph  Sargent,  born  November  16th,  1783.  His  mother 
was  a sister  of  Col.  Thomas  Denny,  and,  though  left  early  an 
orphan  and  without  property,  he  rose  to  a commanding  posi- 
tion in  wealth  and  influence  in  the  town.  He  was  a man  of  a 
strong,  well-balanced  mind,  sound  judgment,  and  great  energy 
of  character.  He  married,  in  1812,  a grand-daughter  of  Col. 
Samuel  Denny,  whom  I have  before  mentioned.  He  was  a 
merchant  and  manufacturer  of  cards,  residing  for  many  years 
in  a house  afterwards  destroyed  by  fire,  at  the  intersection  of 
the  south  with  the  main  street,  in  Leicester.  In  1821,  he 
was  a member  of  tli£  convention  for  amending  the  constitu- 
tion, and,  although  not  a debater,  exercised  a good  degree  of 
influence  in  that  most  respectable  body.  He  was  conservative 
in  his  views,  upright  and  honorable  in  his  dealings  ; and 
when  the  town  lost  the  benefit  of  his  services  and  influence, 
there  was  a general  feeling  that  it  was  a loss  greatly  to  be 
regretted.  He  died  at  the  age  of  forty-six,  in  March,  1829. 
Two  of  his  sons,  fitted  for  college  at  the  academy,  were 
graduated  at  Cambridge,  and  are  distinguished  physicians  in 
Worcester. 

Of  J ames  Smith,  I shall  have  occasion  to  speak  hereafter,  as 


64 


well  as  of  Mr.  Foster,  Mr.  Denny,  and  Dr.  Flint,  in  their 
connection  with  the  board  of  trustees  of  which  they  were 
members. 

The  hand  of  a kind  Providence  seems  to  have  been  dis- 
played in  favor  of  this  academy  in  a remarkable  manner,  on 
several  occasions.  Among  these,  was  the  devise  of  Captain 
Israel  Waters,  of  Charlton,  to  which  I have  already  referred. 
Considering  the  time,  the  then  condition  of  the  academy,  and 
the  amount  of  his  donation,  it  forms  one  of  the  most  important 
epochs  in  the  history  of  the  institution.  He  was  a man  who 
had  acquired  a competency  by  his  own  industry,  was  without 
children,  and  felt  disposed  to  leave  the  bulk  of  his  estate  to 
some  public  institution.  His  attention  was  directed  towards 
Leicester  Academy,  one  of  whose  founders  had  resided  in  the 
same  town,  and  under  his  direction  his  last  will  was  drawn 
by  his  legal  adviser,  the  Hon.  N.  P.  Denny,  one  of  the  trustees 
of  the  academy,  long  an  active  supporter  of  it. 

The  probate  of  the  will  was  sharply  contested  by  the  heirs 
at  law  of  the  testator,  but  finally  established  April,  1824. 

It  contained  the  following  provision  : 

“All  the  rest  and  residue  of  said  fund,  arising  from  the  sales  of  my  estate, 
as  aforesaid,  and  all  other  of  my  estate  of  every  description,  I give  and 
bequeath  to  the  Trustees  of  Leicester  Academy,  in  the  County  of  Worcester, 
and  to  then*  successors  in  office,  with  the  following  restrictions  and  limita- 
tions, to  wit : It  is  to  be  denominated  the  ‘ Waters  Fund,’  for  the  purpose 
of  supporting  an  instructor,  or  instructors,  of  the  Congregational  Calvinistic 
order,  in  the  higher  branches  of  literature,  at  the  discretion  of  the  said  trus- 
tees, in  the  town  of  Leicester  forever,  and  at  said  academy  so  long  as  it 
shall  remain  in  said  town.  But  should  the  said  trustees  aforesaid  ever  see 
fit  to  remove  the  academy  from  said  town  of  Leicester,  and  a removal  of  the 
same  should  actually  take  effect,  then  and  in  that  case  it  is  my  will  that  the 
Waters  Fund  aforesaid  be  taken  by  the  trustees  belonging  to  said  town,  and 
the  interest  thereof  be  expended  in  maintaining  an  instructor  or  instructors 
as  aforesaid,  in  a public  school,  to  be  called  the  Waters  School  or  Academy, 
in  case  an  act  for  the  incorporation  of  the  same  should  be  obtained  to  fix  it 
in  the  said  town  of  Leicester.  And  in  case  the  time  should  ever  arrive  in 
which  there  should  be  no  trustee  of  Leicester  residing  in  and  belonging  to 
said  town,  and  said  academy  at  such  time  should  be  removed  therefrom, 
then  and  in  that  event  I give  and  bequeath  the  Waters  Fund  aforesaid  to 


65 


the  selectmen  of  the  town  of  Leicester  for  the  time  being,  whom  I appoint 
trustees  thereof,  for  them  to  expend  the  interest  of  said  fund  in  the  way  and 
manner  aforesaid,  in  the  town  of  Leicester  forever.”  * 

He  appointed  Austin  Flint  and  N.  P.  Denny,  of  Leicester, 
and  Asa  Bacon,  of  Charlton,  Esqs.,  executors  of  the  will. 

The  will  bears  date  October  4th,  1823.  It  came  up  for 
probate  at  the  December  Court  of  the  same  year,  and  in 
January,  1824,  was  approved  by  the  Judge  of  Probate.  An 
appeal  was  taken  by  the  heirs  at  law,  to  the  Supreme  Court, 
and  after  a hearing  in  that  court  the  same  was  approved  in 
April,  1824.  The  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  and  Samuel  M. 
Burnside,  Esqs.,  acted  as  counsel  for  the  trustees  in  carrying 
through  the  probate  of  the  will,  to  the  entire  approbation  of 
the  ti*ustees. 

Col.  Asa  Bacon,  who  acted  as  one  of  the  executors  of 
Capt.  "Waters’s  will,  was  a highly  respectable  and  intelligent 
citizen  of  Charlton,  to  whom  the  testator  had  been  a patron 
and  friend.  He  died  in  1854,  having  lived  to  see  the 
academy  placed,  by  the  benefaction  of  Capt.  Waters,  and 
other  distinguished  friends  of  the  institution,  in  a condition 
which,  we  trust,  leaves  its  permanence  and  success  beyond 
any  reasonable  doubt. 

The  reason  that  probably  led  to  the  provision  in  this  will, 
and  the  subscription  paper  to  which  allusion  has  been  made, 
by  which  the  gift  should  cease  if  the  academy  should  be 
removed  from  Leicester,  was,  that  about  that  time  the  project 
for  such  a removal  had  been  renewed,  and  articles  favoring 
such  a measure  had  appeared  in  some  of  the  papers  of  the 
county. 

The  attention  of  the  trustees  was  called  to  the  subject  in 
1823,  and  a committee  raised  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
removing  it ; and  in  August,  1824,  they  appointed  another 

* A copy  of  this  will  is  entered  on  record  in  the  hooks  of  the  academy,  with  a vote  of  the 
trustees,  expressive  of  a sense  of  acknowledgment  on  their  part,  and  pledging  the  corporation 
to  observe  the  limitations  and  restrictions  therein. 


66 


committee  to  inquire  into  the  history  of  the  funds,  and  the 
conditions  upon  which  any  part  of  them  were  obtained. 

An  able  and  interesting  report  was  made,  by  which  it 
appears  that,  of  the  permanent  funds  of  the  academy,  03890 
were  conditional,  and  06865  unconditional,  while  the  build- 
ings, and  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  lands  belonging  to  the 
trustees,  were  held  by  an  unconditional  title. 

This  was  prior  to  any  payments  into  the  treasury  from  the 
legacy  of  Capt.  Waters. 

The  average  room  rent  and  tuition  paid  by  the  students, 
for  the  five  previous  years,  had  been  0703  annually. 

With  this  amount  of  funds,  and  the  increase  from  tuition 
thus  limited,  and  with  a building  unfit  for  use,  and  going 
fast  to  decay,  it  is  not  difficult  to  perceive  that  when  the 
le^acv  of  Capt.  Waters  took  effect,  the  institution  was  in  a 
condition  to  appreciate  the  munificence  of  that  gift. 

We  call  it  munificence,  and  such  it  was  when  tested  by  the 
amount  of  resources  belonging  to  the  academy,  and  the  rank 
and  condition  in  life  of  the  donor. 

Capt.  Israel  Waters  was  the  architect  of  his  own 
fortune.  He  was  a native  of  Sutton,  and  began  life  with 
very  humble  means,  beyond  the  trade  he  had  been  taught, 
and  a strong  resolution  to  succeed.  He  established  himself 
in  business  in  the  northerly  part  of  Charlton,  where  he 
carried  on  the  manufacture  of  leather  with  great  success,  and 
acquired  a handsome  estate. 

The  life  of  such  a man  has  in  it  very  little  incident  to  give 
interest  to  a biographical  notice ; but  his  name  will  be 
preserved  and  gratefully  remembered  as  long  as  this  institu- 
tion, so  distinguished  as  an  object  of  his  bounty,  shall  continue 
to  fulfil  the  high  purposes  for  which  it  was  created. 

I am  not  able  to  state  precisely  the  amount  of  Captain 
Waters’s  legacy  to  the  academy,  at  the  time  of  making  his 
wilL  But  from  the  statements  of  record  in  respect  to  the 
Waters  Fund,  in  1828,  1829  and  1830,  I infer  that  the 
original  amount  was  about  08000,  exceeding  that,  perhaps. 


67 


by  three  or  four  hundred  dollars.  In  1842,  the  principal  of 
the  fund  was  declared  to  be  $9200. 

The  next  accession  of  funds  by  the  academy  was  upon  the 
death  of  its  early  and  constant  friend,  the  Hon.  Isaiah  Thomas, 
in  1831. 

This  was  ascertained  to  be  $4686.36,  besides  certain  parcels 
of  real  estate  in  Maine  and  Vermont,  from  which  the  trustees 
afterwards  derived  a considerable  sum  more. 

The  executors  of  Mr.  Thomas’s  will,  John  TV  Lincoln  and 
Moses  Thomas,  Esqs.,  having  paid  this  legacy  to  the  trustees, 
they  adopted  the  following  vote : 

u That  the  trustees  receive  with  sentiments  of  gratitude  the  legacy  of  said 
Thomas,  and  that  the  said  legacy  be  faithfully  appropriated  in  aid  of  the 
objects  for  yrhich  said  academy  was  incorporated." 

Almost  simultaneous  with  the  receipt  of  Mr.  Thomas's 
legacy,  a legacy  of  $250  was  paid  to  the  trustees  by  Theoph- 
ilus  Wheeler,  Esq.,  and  Mrs.  Rebehah  Maccarty,  executors 
of  the  last  will  of  Nathaniel  Maccarty,  Esq.,  late  of  Worcester, 
deceased. 

This  sum  was  also  received  with  expressions  of  gratitude 
by  the  trustees,  and  a pledge  on  their  part  that  it  should  be 
faithfully  appropriated. 

Nathaniel  Maccarty,  for  many  years  before  Ms  death, 
was  a gentleman  of  fortune,  living  retired  from  business  in 
Worcester.  He  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Maccarty,  one  of 
the  first  board  of  trustees.  For  many  years  he  was  engaged 
in  mercantile  business  in  Petersham,  but  returned  to  spend  a 
considerable  portion  of  Ms  life  in  his  native  town,  where  he 
died  in  1831. 

In  1833,  the  total  funds  of  the  institution  were  $21,970.67. 
In  1834,  they  were  $20,525.57,  out  of  wMch  there  was  due 
the  sum  of  $5000,  wliich  the  trustees  had  borrowed  in  the 
erection  of  the  new  academy.  In  1840,  they  were  $14,496.13. 
In  1844,  they  had  diminished  to  the  sum  of  $13,611.72. 

In  August,  1845,  the  trustees  were  informed  that  the  late 
Hon.  Daniel  Wraldo,  for  many  years  a trustee  and  patron  of 


68 


the  institution,  had,  by  his  will,  left  them  a legacy  of 
$6000. 

A vote  accepting  this,  and  expressing  to  the  relatives  of 
Mr.  Waldo  a sense  of  the  obligation  thereby  created,  was 
adopted  by  the  trustees,  and  an  extract  from  his  will  entered 
upon  the  records  of  the  institution. 

“ I give  and  bequeath  to  Leicester  Academy,  six  thousand  dollars,  subject 
to  the  following  conditions,  viz.:  that  the  said  six  thousand  dollars  shall 
constitute  a permanent  fund,  to  be  called  the  Waldo  Fund,  and  be  invested, 
as  soon  as  may  be,  by  the  trustees  of  said  academy,  for  the  time  being,  in 
personal  obligations,  with  collateral  security  of  real  estate,  in  the  County  of 
Worcester  aforesaid;  the  actual  value  of  which,  in  every  instance,  shall  be, 
at  a fair  appraisement,  not  less  than  three  times  the  amount  of  the  sum 
meant  to  be  secured  thereby,  and  the  interest  only  of  the  said  sum  of  six 
thousand  dollars  shall  be  annually  appropriated  and  applied  in  payment  for 
able  instruction,  in  the  various  branches  of  knowledge  usually  taught  in  simi- 
lar institutions.” 

The  next  accession  to  the  funds  of  the  academy  was  made 
and  communicated  to  the  trustees,  at  a meeting  held  October 
27,  by  James  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  which  is  copied 
here,  as  expressing,  in  excellent  taste  and  appropriate  language, 
the  views  of  the  munificent  donor,  in  bestowing  his  bounty 
upon  the  institution. 

“ Philadelphia,  12th  October,  1852. 

“ To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Leicester  Academy : 

“ Gentlemen  : Feeling  a deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  education  generally, 
and  a particular  regard  for  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  the  town  of  Leices- 
ter, I am  induced  to  execute  a design  I have  long  entertained,  of  making  a 
donation  to  the  funds  of  your  institution,  that  it  may  be  better  enabled  to 
benefit  the  many  youth  of  both  sexes,  who  may  feel  disposed  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  privileges  it  affords  for  their  instruction. 

“ On  the  condition  that  the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  shall  be  subscribed 
by  others,  previous  to  the  first  day  of  January  next,  I propose  to  convey  to 
you  a sum  which  shall,  at  that  time,  amount  to  ten  thousand  dollars,  in  secu- 
rities. 

“ That  it  may  be  made  as  beneficial  as  possible,  and  feeling  entire  confi- 
dence in  your  board,  that  it  will  be  so  used,  I am  not  disposed  to  encumber 
the  expenditure  of  this  money  with  many  restrictions. 

“ Believing,  however,  that  the  academy  is  now  located  in  as  good  a place  as 
it  can  be,  for  an  institution  of  the  kind,  I wish  to  make  it  a condition  of  the 


69 


donation  that  the  amount  so  given  shall  be  expended  only  in  the  town  of 
Leicester.  And  in  case  of  the  removal  of  the  academy  from  that  place,  I 
direct  that  the  amount  remaining  unexpended  of  this  fund,  shall  be  appro- 
priated, in  conjunction  with  the  “ Waters  Fund,”  so  called,  under  the 
direction  of  the  trustees  who  may  then  be  residents  of  the  town  of  Leicester, 
for  the  purpose  of  supporting  a public  school  or  academy  in  said  town. 

“ I would  also  express  a desire  that  the  interest,  or  income,  of  a sum  not 
exceeding  two  thousand  dollars  of  this  amount,  should  be  annually  appro- 
priated, by  the  board,  for  paying  the  tuition  and  furnishing  books  for  the 
use  of  such  pious,  indigent  young  men  as  may  be  well  recommended,  and 
deemed  proper  objects  of  such  charity,  and  are  desirous  of  preparing  for  the 
ministry,  believing  that,  if  suitable  beneficiaries  should  offer  themselves,  the 
appropriation  would  not  only  be  advantageous  to  them,  but  that  it  would 
exert  a good  influence  on  the  institution,  and  might  be  the  means  of  advan- 
cing the  cause  of  Christianity  generally. 

“ With  the  hope  that  your  institution  may  continue,  as  it  has  heretofore 
been,  a blessing  to  the  town  in  which  it  is  located,  as  well  as  to  the  commu- 
nity at  large,  I remain, 

“Very  respectfully,  yours,  etc., 

“JAMES  SMITH.” 

Upon  receiving  this  proposal,  the  trustees  adopted  the 
following  preamble  and  votes  : 

“Whereas  a proposal  has  been  made  to  this  board,  under  date  12th 
October,  instant,  by  James  Smith,  Esq.,  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  to  make 
a donation  of  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  to  this  institution,  upon  the 
condition  ‘ that  the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  shall  be  subscribed  by 
others,  previous  to  the  first  day  of  January  next,’  and  upon  certain  other 
conditions  expressed  therein, 

“ Voted,  That  the  proposal  of  Mr.  Smith  be,  and  hereby  is,  accepted  by 
the  board,  upon  the  conditions  therein  expressed. 

“ Voted,  That, "in  accepting  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Smith,  this  board  desire 
to  express  to  him  their  grateful  appreciation  of  the  spirit  of  liberality  and  of 
Christian  philanthropy  which  has  actuated  him  in  making  this  munificent 
donation,  and  their  deep  sense  of  the  confidence  reposed  by  him  in  the 
government  of  this  institution,  in  thus  making  them  the  almoners  of*  his 
bounty,  without  restrictions  upon  their  judgment  and  discretion ; a confi- 
dence which  they  hope  to  justify  by  an  administration  of  the  fund  which 
will  accord  with  his  wishes,  and  redound  to  the  advancement  of  the  best 
interests  of  this  institution.” 

The  trustees  took  measures  to  obtain  the  requisite  sum  of 
five  thousand  dollars  to  comply  with  the  condition  upon  which 


70 


the  proposal  of  Mr.  Smith  was  to  take  effect,  and,  in  their 
appeal  to  the  friends  of  the  institution,  were  met  by  contribu- 
tions to  the  amount  of  $7130. 

The  names  of  these  contributors  are  as  follow  : 

George  C.  Shattuck,  Boston,  . $100  Eli  W.  Blake,  New  Haven,  . $20 

Myrick  & Sugden,  Spencer,  . 20  Byron  Sprague,  Providence,  . 5 

Dwight  Foster,  Worcester,  . 100  John  A.  Smith,  Leicester,  . . 500 

Dana  H.  Fitch,  ditto,  ...  25  Joseph  A.  Denny,  ditto, . . . 1000 

Emoiy  Washburn,  ditto,  . . 100  Josephus  Woodcock,  ditto,  . . 100 

Abijah  Bigelow,  ditto,  . . . 100  Lucius  Woodcock,  ditto,  . . 200 

Stephen  Salisbury,  ditto,  . . 1000  Baylies  Upham,  ditto,  . . . 100 

Thomas  Denny,  New  York, . . 500  Mary  H.  Lamb,  ditto,  . . . 100 

Thos.  Kinnicutt,  Worcester,  . 50  Danforth  Rice,  ditto, ....  75 

C.  Flint,  Spear,  N.  Y.,  . . . 100  Joshua  Murdock,  Jr.,  ditto,  . . 100 

Roswell  Sprague,  New  York,  . 100  Robert  Watson,  ditto,  ...  10 

J.  Wiley  Edmunds,  Newton,  . 500  Elizabeth  Sargent,  ditto,  . . 100 

Daniel  Denny,  Dorchester,  . . 100  Leander  Warren,  ditto,  ...  25 

F.  A.  Jones,  Boston, ....  25  Jonas  L.  Warren,  ditto,  ...  10 

William  C.  Peters,  ditto,  . . 10  Reuben  S.  Denny,  ditto,  . . 100 

Ichabod  Washburn,  Worcester,  500  A.  C.  Denison,  ditto, ....  25 

Alexander  De  Witt,  Oxford,  . 100  John  Nelson,  ditto,  ....  25 

William  W.  Stone,  New  York,  100  Oliver  Smith,  ditto,  ....  20 

Charles  C.  Burr,  Boston,  . . 100  Abigail  Sargent,  ditto,  ...  25 

Edward  B.  Westley,  New  York,  100  J.  Sargent  Smith,  ditto,  ...  20 

Samuel  Appleton,  Boston,  . . 100  Alonzo  White,  ditto,  ....  100 

John  Brooks,  Princeton,  . . 50  Joseph  Whittemore,  ditto,  . . 10 

Anthony  Chase,  Worcester, . . 50  Henry  A.  Denny,  ditto,  . . . 100 

Robert  Earle,  New  York,  . . 100  Jesse  D.  Dana,  ditto, ....  10 

George  Chandler,  Worcester,  . 20  Nathan  Craige,  ditto,  ...  40 

William  A.  Smith,  Worcester, . 10  Lucretia  Denny,  ditto,  . . . 100 

Sewail  B.  Bond,  Boston,  . . 5 A.  H.  Washburn,  ditto,  ...  50 

Daniel  Harwood,  ditto,  ...  5 Samuel  Hurd,  ditto,  ....  25 

Dexter  S,  King,  ditto,  ...  5 Samuel  L.  Hodges,  ditto,  . . 50 

B.  R.  Keith,  ditto,  ....  10  Total,  ....  $7,130 

In  compliance  with  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Smith,  the  trus- 
tees, at  their  meeting,  August  9th,  1854,  voted  to  appropri- 
ate the  income  of  $2,000  from  his  donation  to  defray  the 
tuition  of  six  students  in  the  academy,  who  may  be  preparing 
for  college  within  the  spirit  and  intention  of  the  terms  of  said 
donation,  and  a standing  committee  of  the  trustees  was 


71 


appointed  to  determine  the  claims  of  any  applicant  for  such 
allowance. 

A statement  of  the  condition  of  the  funds  was  made  by  a 
committee  of  the  trustees,  in  May,  1854,  by  which,  after 
defraying  the  expenses  incurred  in  the  alterations  and  improve- 
ments of  the  building  before  spoken  of,  it  appears  that  the 
amount  of  the 


Waters  Fund  was 
Waldo  Fund, 

Smith  Fund,  . 

And  the  General  Fund,  . 


$9,100.00 

6,000.00 

10,000.00 

2,228.57 


Making  a total  of 


$27,329.53 


Between  that  time  and  May,  1855,  expenditures  were 
incurred  for  desks  and  other  extraordinary  charges  as  well 
as  ordinary,  which  reduced  the  general  fund  to  $1141.05 
leaving  the  other  funds  unimpaired. 

Such  is,  in  substance,  the  condition  of  the  funds  of  the 
institution  at  the  time  to  which  this  report  relates. 

The  trustees,  in  August,  1853,  specially  appropriated  the 
sum  given  by  Mr.  Smith  as  a permanent  fund,  under  the 
name  of  the  “ Smith  Fund,”  which,  with  the  Waters  and 
Waldo  Funds,  constitute  a total  of  $25,100,  the  income  of 
which  is  subject  to  be  expended  for  the  purposes  of  the 
institution. 


72 


CHAPTER  IV. 

PERSONAL  NOTICES  OF  THE  TRUSTEES. 

In  tlie  petition  for  an  act  of  incorporation,  the  names  of 
the  persons  to  be  constituted  its  trustees  were  given.  But, 
for  some  reason,  other  names  were  substituted  for  a portion  of 
these  in  the  act. 

Among  them  were  Caleb  Amidown,  William  Stearns, 
Samuel  Curtis,  Asa  Sprague,  and  Nehemiah  Williams. 

Caleb  Amidown  was  of  Charlton,  and  has  been  noticed  in 
another  connection  as  one  of  the  benefactors  of  the  institution. 

William  Stearns  was  of  Worcester,  and  a lawyer.  He 
was  born  in  Lunenburg,  and  was  graduated  at  Cambridge  in 
1770.  He  studied  divinity,  and  preached  awhile,  but  was 
never  settled.  After  studying  law,  he  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  1776,  and  established  himself  in  Worcester.  He  died  in 
1784,  which  will  account  for  his  name  being  omitted  in  the 
list  of  trustees. 

He  is  said  to  have  possessed  good  sense,  respectable  learning, 
lively  wit,  and  much  kindness  of  feeling. 

Samuel  Curtis  also  belonged  to  Worcester,  and  was  a 
highly  respectable  and  influential  man,  especially  during  and 
previous  to  the  revolution.  He  lived  in  that  part  of  the 
town,  embraced  within  the  lines  of  the  town  of  Ward,  after- 
wards Auburn,  and  was  an  independent  and  intelligent  farmer. 

Asa  Sprague  was  of  Spencer,  and  has  already  been 
mentioned.  For  some  reason  his  connection  with  the  owner- 
ship of  the  academy  estate  was  early  terminated,  and, 
probably  from  the  same  cause,  his  name  was  omitted  in  the 
act  creating  the  trustees. 

Rev.  Nehemiah  Williams  was  a clergyman  of  Brimfield. 


He  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Chester  Williams,  of  Hadley,  and 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1769.  He  was  ordained  in 
1775,  and  died  November  26th,  1796.  He  is  spoken  of  as  a 
pious,  devoted  minister,  and  the  author  of  a volume  of  sermons, 
published  after  his  death. 

The  Board  of  Trustees,  as  constituted  by  the  act  of  incorpo- 
ration, were : 


Colonel  Ebenezer  Crafts,  who  held  office  till 

. . . 1792 

Colonel  Jacob  Davis, 

66 

66 

. . . 1786 

Hon.  Moses  Gill, 

66 

66 

. . . 1800 

Hon.  Samuel  Baker, 

66 

66 

. . . 1795 

Hon.  Levi  Lincoln, 

66 

66 

. . . 1802 

Hon.  Seth  Washburn, 

66 

66 

. . . 1794 

Col.  Rufus  Putnam, 

66 

66 

. . . 1790 

Hon.  Joseph  Allen, 

66 

66 

. . . 1819 

Rev.  Thaddeus  Maccarty, 

66 

66 

. . . 1784 

Rev.  Joseph  Sumner, 

66 

66 

. . . 1818 

Rev.  Joshua  Paine, 

66 

66 

. . . 1800 

Rev.  Benjamin  Conklin, 

66 

66 

. . . 1798 

Rev.  Archibald  Campbell, 

66 

66 

. . . 1795 

Rev.  Joseph  Pope, 

66 

66 

. * . 1816 

Hon.  Timothy  Danielson, 

66 

66 

. . . 1786 

They  were  succeeded  by  the  following,  viz. 


1784,  July  4, 

Rev.  Daniel  Grosvenor,  -who  held  office  till  . . 

1815 

1786,  Nov. 

Jonas  Howe,  Esq., 

66 

66 

1813 

66 

u 

Capt.  Thomas  Newhall, 

66 

66 

1814 

1791,  May  19, 

Hon.  Dwight  Foster, 

66 

66 

1818 

1792,  Oct.  2, 

Hon.  Timothy  Newell, 

66 

66 

1797 

1794,  July  7, 

Col.  Thomas  Denny, 

66 

66 

1815 

1795,  July  9, 

Rev.  Nathan  Fiske, 

66 

66 

1800 

1797,  July, 

Eleazer  James,  Esq., 

66 

66 

1814 

“ July, 

Hon.  Elijah  Brigham, 

66 

66 

1816 

1798,  July, 

Rev.  Zephaniah  S.  Moore, 

66 

66 

1812 

1800,  July  3, 

Rev.  Ephraim  Ward, 

66 

66 

1815 

66 

u 

Rev.  Aaron  Bancroft, 

66 

66 

1831 

66 

u 

Hon.  William  Stedman, 

66 

66 

1817 

1802,  July, 

Hon.  Nathaniel  Paine, 

66 

66 

1812 

1812,  August, 

Rev.  John  Nelson, 

66 

66 

“ Nov. 

Hon.  Benjamin  Heywood, 

66 

66 

1817 

74 


1813,  August, 

Hon.  Aaron  Tufts,  who  held  office  till  . 

1S33 

1814,  “ 

Samuel  M.  Burnside, 

U 

u 

1850 

1815,  “ 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Thayer, 

u 

u 

m 

1826 

U U 

Rev.  Micah  Stone, 

u 

u 

1836 

u u 

Dr.  Austin  Flint, 

u 

1831 

u u 

Hon.  Nath’l  P.  Denny, 

u 

u 

1845 

1816,  “ 

Hon.  Levi  Lincoln, 

u 

u 

1834 

u u 

Rev.  Edwards  Whipple, 

u 

u 

1S22 

1817,  “ 

Hon.  Daniel  Waldo, 

u 

u 

1834 

“ Nov. 

Hon.  Benjamin  Adams,  (declined.) 

1818,  “ 

Hon.  Bezaleel  Taft,  Jr., 

u 

1829 

U U 

Hon.  Salem  Towne,  Jr., 

u 

ii 

1826 

1819,  August, 

Rev.  Josiah  Clark, 

u 

ii 

1845 

“ Nov.  11, 

Hon.  Abijah  Bigelow, 

u 

u 

1853 

1823,  August, 

Rev.  Samuel  Clark, 

“ 

u 

. 

1837 

1826,  May  24, 

Hon.  Samuel  Mixter, 

u 

u 

9 

1845 

1827,  “ 23, 

Rev.  Horatio  Barwell, 

u 

u 

m 

1835 

1830,  “ 19, 

Hon.  George  Davis, 

u 

u 

1851 

1831,  Aug.  24,  Rev.  George  Allen, 

u 

u 

1852 

“ Nov.  10, 

Hon.  Wm.  B.  Bannister, 

u 

u 

1833 

1833,  Aug.  21, 

Hon.  Alfred  D.  Foster, 

u 

u 

1849 

“ Dec,  25, 

James  Smith,  Esq., 

* 

u 

1844 

1834,  Aug.  20, 

Hon.  James  Allen, 

u 

u 

1852 

“ “ Joseph  A-  Denny,  Esq. 

1835,  “ 19,  Rev.  Levi  Packard. 

1836,  “ 17,  Her.  Horatio  Bardwell,  (2d  time.) 

1837,  “ 9,  Rev.  William  P.  Paine. 

1845,  May  14,  Hon.  Emory  Washburn. 

1846,  w Rev.  Amos  Bullard.  “ “ . . 1851 


1847,  Aug.  10,  John  Sargent,  Esq.  “ “ . . 1850 

“ “ Hon.  Stephen  Salisbury, 

1850,  May  15,  Hon.  Thomas  Einnicutt. 

“ “ Henry  A.  Denny,  Esq. 

1851,  Aug.  13,  Rev.  Andrew  C.  Dennison. 

“ “ Hon.  Ebenezer  Torrey. 

“ “ Hon.  William  Hyde,  (declined.) 

1852,  Aug.  1,  Thomas  Denny,  Esq. 

u Oct.  27,  Hon.  Waldo  Flint,  (declined.) 

1853,  May  11,  Rev.  Alonzo  Hill,  D.  D. 

1854,  Aug.  9,  Samuel  A.  Hitchcock,  Esq.,  (declined.) 

1855,  May  6,  Ichabod  Washburn,  Esq. 


The  Presidents  of  the  Corporation  have  been  as  follows  : 


Hon.  Moses  Gill, 

Hon.  Levi  Lincoln, 
Rev.  Joseph  Sumner,  . 
Rev.  Aaron  Bancroft, 
Hon.  Levi  Lincoln,  Jr., 
R.ev.  John  Nelson, 


from  April,  1784,  till  1800 

« Oct  1800,  “ 1802 

“ July,  1802,  “ 1818 

“ Dec.  1818,  “ 1831 

“ May,  1831,  “ 1834 

“ ]Nlay,  1834. 


The  Vice  Presidents  have  been  as  follows : 


Rev.  Benjamin  Conklin,. 
Rev.  Nathan  Fiske, 

Rev.  Joseph  Sumner,  . 
Hon.  Dwight  Foster,  . 
Hon.  Levi  Lincoln,  Jr., . 
Rev.  Micah  Stone, 

Samuel  M.  Burnside,  Esq., 
Hon.  Emory  Washburn, 


from  April,  1784,  to  1798 
“ July  5,  1798,  to  1800 
“ Oct  1800,  to  1802 
“ July,  1802,  to  1818 
« Dec.  18, 1818,  to  1831 
“ May  18, 1831,  to  1836 
“ Aug.  17, 1836,  to  1850 
“ May  14, 1850. 


SECRETARIES. 


Rev.  Joseph  Pope, 

Rev.  Zephaniah  S.  Moore, 
Rev.  John  Nelson, 

Luther  Wright,  Esq., 
Joseph  A.  Denny,  Esq., . 
Rev.  Andrew  C.  Dennison, 


from  April  7,  1784,  to  1800 
“ July  3,  1800,  to  1812 
“ Nov.  1812,  to  1834 
" May  21, 1834,  to  1835 
“ Aug  19, 1835,  to  1853 
“ May  11,1853. 


TREASURERS. 


Hon.  Joseph  Allen, 
Hon.  Levi  Lincoln,  Jr.  . 
Hon.  Abijah  Bigelow,  . 
Joseph  A.  Denny,  Esq. 


from  April  7,  1784,  to  1819 
“ Nov.  11,  1819,  to  1820 
“ Aug.  23,  1820,  to  1853 
“ May  11,  1853. 


Col.  Ebexezer  Crafts  very  properly  holds  the  first 
place  in  our  notices  of  the  several  trustees  of  this  institution. 
And,  in  respect  to  him,  as  well  as  to  others  of  that  number, 
my  regret  is,  that  I am,  of  necessity,  obliged  to  be  so  brief  and 
unsatisfactory.  His  was  a character  that  only  required  to  be 
known  to  be  respected,  and  the  better  known  the  more  it 
commands  respect. 

He  was  bom  in  Pomfret,  Conn.,  September  3d,  1740,  and 


76 


was  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1T59.  Soon  after  this,  he 
engaged  m mercantile  business  in  his  native  town.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-two  he  married  Mehitable  Chandler,  and,  soon 
after,  removed  to  Sturbridge,  where  he  continued  to  pursue  the 
same  business  in  which  he  had  been  engaged,  and,  by  attention 
and  assiduity,  acquired  thereby  a large  estate. 

At  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  he  held  the  command 
of  a company  of  cavalry,  which  he  had  raised  and  organized, 
and  joined  the  army  with  it  at  Cambridge,  in  1775.  He 
remained  in  the  service  till  the  British  troops  evacuated 
Boston,  when  he  returned  to  Sturbridge,  and  was  soon  after 
elected  the  colonel  of  a regiment  of  cavalry,  which  office  he 
held  till  his  removal  from  the  county.  At  the  time  of  the 
insurrection,  known  as  the  “ Shay’s  Rebellion,”  he  marched, 
with  a body  of  one  hundred  men  under  Gen.  Lincoln,  in  the 
winter  of  1786—7,  into  the  western  counties,  where  he 
rendered  prompt  and  essential  service  in  suppressing  that 
alarming,  but  ill-judged  outbreak. 

With  the  enlarged  and  patriotic  views  of  Colonel  Crafts, 
the  importance  of  educating  the  rising  generation  early 
attracted  his  attention.  The  people  were  about  to  assume  the 
solemn  trust  of  self-government,  and,  to  do  this  with  success, 
they  should  be  able  to  understand  and  appreciate  the  wants 
and  duties  of  a free  people. 

The  condition  of  the  common  schools  was  depressed ; the 
number  of  public  institutions  for  education  was  few  ; and  the 
idea  of  establishing  such  an  institution  in  this  county  occu- 
pied his  thoughts  for  some  time  before  any  measures  were 
taken  to  accomplish  it. 

He,  at  first,  conceived  the  plan  of  founding  an  academy  in 
the  pleasant  village  where  he  resided.  But  the  opportunity 
that  presented,  as  has  been  already  stated,  for  procuring  a 
suitable  building  in  Leicester,  and  the  cooperation  of  Colonel 
Davis  in  the  scheme,  induced  him  to  direct  his  efforts  to  its 
establishment  in  that  place,  with  the  zeal  and  success  which  I 
have  already  had  occasion  to  notice. 


By  his  efforts  in  this,  and  other  benevolent  enterprises,  and 
that  general  revulsion  of  business,  which,  after  the  close  of 
the  war,  proved  so  disastrous  to  New  England,  he  became 
so  much  embarrassed  in  his  affairs,  that  he  was  induced  to  sell 
his  estates  here,  and  remove  to  Vermont,  where  he,  in 
company  with  Gen.  Newhall,  of  Sturbridge,  had  purchased  a 
township  of  land,  a few  years  previous. 

This  took  place  in  the  winter  of  17 90—1,  and  the  town,  out  of 
respect  to  its  founder,  took  the  name  of  Craftsbury.  In  1792, 
he  resigned  his  place  as  a trustee  of  the  academy,  up  to  which 
time  he  cherished  and  promoted  its  interests,  and  shared  in 
its  early  struggles,  against  the  same  difficulties  which  were 
embarrassing  his  own  affairs. 

In  1786,  Colonel  Crafts  was  honored  with  the  degree  of 
A.  M.  from  Harvard  University. 

It  is  not  easy  for  the  present  generation  to  understand,  how 
new  and  unbroken  was  the  wilderness  into  which  Colonel 
Crafts  removed  with  his  family.  To  the  generation  that  were 
upon  the  stage  a half  century  ago,  it  was  familiarly  known  as 
the  cc  new  State,”  and,  towards  it,  was  the  foot  of  the 
emigrant  from  the  older  counties  in  Massachusetts  directed 
till  that  time. 

Scarce  a town  in  that  region,  that  had  not  more  or  less  of 
its  early  settlers  from  the  county  of  Worcester,  and  Colonel 
Crafts  had  already  been  preceded  by  Colonel  Davis  at  the 
time  of  his  removal:* 

At  that  time,  there  was  no  road  opened  for  more  than 
twenty  miles  from  Craftsbury,  and,  it  being  winter,  the 
females  of  his  family  were  drawn,  that  distance,  upon  hand- 
sleds  over  the  snow. 

Here  he  gathered  around  him  a number  of  excellent  fam- 
ilies from  Sturbridge  and  neighboring  towns,  and  a little 


* The  recency  of  the  settlement  of  that  part  of  Vermont  cannot  be  more  sensibly  exhibited 
than  from  a letter  now  lying  before  me,  in  relation  to  Colonel  Jacob  Davis,  from  Gen.  Perly 
Davis,  dated  1848,  who,  with  Colonel  Davis,  was  among  the  very  earliest  settlers  of  Montpelier. 


78 


community  was  formed,  of  which  he  was  the  acknowledged 
head. 

For  twenty  years,  he  stood  to  it  in  the  relation  of  a patri- 
arch, a friend  and  counsellor,  whose  intelligence  all  under- 
stood, and  whose  friendship  and  fidelity  all  esteemed.  His 
generous  hospitality,  his  energy  of  character,  his  calm  dig- 
nity, and  his  pure  and  Christian  life,  acting,  as  they  did, 
upon  a well-educated,  sympathizing  community,  exerted  an 
influence,  and  stamped  a character  upon  the  people  and  for- 
tunes of  the  town  he  planted,  which  is  plainly  perceptible 
to  this  day. 

In  this,  he  found  a ready  and  efficient  auxiliary  in  his  son, 
whom  we  have  mentioned,  and  other  members  of  his  own 
immediate  kindred. 

In  this  community  he  resided  till  his  death,  May  24th, 
1810,  at  the  age  of  70,  respected  and  beloved  by  a con- 
stantly widening  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintance. 

The  academy  are  in  possession  of  an  excellent  likeness  of 
this  founder  of  the  institution,  from  an  original  portrait  for- 
merly in  the  possession  of  his  son,  the  late  Hon.  Samuel  C. 
Crafts,  in  which  it  is  not  difficult  to  trace  indications  of  that 
character  that  distinguished  him  in  the  middle  and  more 
active  period  of  his  life. 

He  was  a man  of  great  energy  and  firmness,  and,  though 
liberal  in  his  views  and  sentiments,  he  was  inflexible  in  the 
maintenance  of  principle,  and,  with  the  opportunities  he 
enjoyed,  such  a man  would  not  fail  to  make  his  influence 
widely  felt. 

But  it  is  chiefly  of  this  influence,  as  connected  with  this 
institution,  that  it  is  proper  to  speak  in  this  place. 

As  class  after  class  of  hopeful  and  educated  young  men 
have  gone  out  from  this  academy  to  perform  their  parts  in 
the  various  departments  of  life,  they  have  unconsciously  been 
his  agents  in  disseminating  principles,  upon  the  maintenance 
of  which  depend  the  permanence  and  prosperity  of  the  repub- 
lic itself.  And,  in  paying  this  brief  and  humble  tribute  to 


79 


his  memory,  it  is  hoped  that  it  may  be  regarded  in  the  light 
of  meet  though  tardy  justice  to  one  who  conceived  and  car- 
ried out  the  plan  of  founding  the  institution. 

His  successor  in  the  board  of  trustees  was  General  Timothy 
Newhall. 

Jacob  Davis  was  the  son  of  Edward,  and  was  born  in 
Oxford.  He  was  the  brother  of  Ebenezer  Davis,  of  Charl- 
ton, and  General  Jonathan  Davis,  of  Oxford,  who  were  lead- 
ing and  influential  men  in  their  day,  the  latter  having  been, 
for  many  years,  a member  of  the  Court  of  Sessions  in  this 
county. 

Jacob  removed  to  Charlton,  where  he  occupied  and  car- 
ried on  a valuable  farm,  and,  at  one  time,  was  possessed  of 
considerable  wealth. 

This  was  his  condition  when  he  engaged  with  Colonel 
Crafts  in  undertaking  to  found  an  academy  in  Leicester. 

He  was,  at  that  time,  in  the  prime  of  life,  active  and  enter- 
prising, and  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  com- 
munity around  him. 

He  entered  extensively  into  the  purchase  of  lands  in  Ver- 
mont, then  a new  and  unsettled  region,  and  was  one  of  the 
original  proprietors  of  the  town  of  Montpelier. 

Soon  after  the  incorporation  of  the  academy,  the  affairs  of 
Col.  Davis  became  embarrassed,  which  gave  rise  to  transac- 
tions under  which  his^ character  suffered  to  that  extent,  that,  in 
1786,  the  trustees  of  the  academy  felt  compelled  to  dissolve 
his  connexion  with  that  body. 

Of  the  justice  or  merits  of  the  measure,  there  is  no  occasion 
to  speak  here. 

In  the  spring  of  1787,  he  removed  to  Montpelier,  where  he 
settled  upon  a farm  in  what  is  now  the  village  of  Montpelier, 
and  erected  a log  house,  into  which  he  removed  his  family 
the  next  winter.  His  daughter  born  there,  was  the  first  child 
born  in  the  town.  Only  one  family  had  preceded  him  in  the 
settlement  of  the  town. 

Here  he  erected  mills  on  the  Onion  river,  and  engaged 


80 


extensively  in  business.  Upon  the  incorporation  of  that 
town,  he  was  chosen  its  first  representative  in  the  legislature 
of  Vermont. 

His  life  in  A ermont  was  somewhat  chequered  as  to  his 
success  in  business.  He  continued  to  reside  upon  the  same 
farm  on  which  he  settled,  until  his  death. 

His  connexion  with  the  academy  was  too  brief  to  influence 
its  success  materially  ; but,  in  tracing  its  origin  and  progress, 
it  would  be  doing  great  injustice  to  one  of  its  earliest  patrons 
if  we  failed  to  assign  to  him  a prominent  place  in  these  notices 
of  those  who  have  had  charge  of  its  interests.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded, in  his  place  of  trustee,  by  Thomas  Xewhall. 

Hox.  Moses  Gill  was,  as  has  already  been  stated,  an 
original  benefactor  of  the  academy,  and  was  elected  first 
president  of  the  board  of  trustees,  upon  the  organization  of 
that  body. 

He  was  bom  in  Charlestown,  January  18th,  1734,  and  was 
bred  to  the  business  of  a merchant,  upon  which  he  entered  at 
an  early  age,  in  Boston. 

He  was  distinguished  for  integrity  and  devotion  to  business, 
and  by  his  industry  and  assiduity  acquired  competence  and 
public  confidence. 

His  wife  was  a daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Prince,  the  Xew 
England  annalist,  and  in  her  right  he  came  into  possession  of  a 
large  landed  estate  in  Princeton,  of  which  town  her  father 
was  a large  proprietor,  and  to  which  he  had  given  his  name. 

This  estate  he  afterwards  acquired  in  his  own  right,  and  if 
we  may  judge  of  his  fame  and  mansion  house  from  the 
description  of  them  left  by  Dr.  Whitney,  in  his  History  of  the 
County  of  Worcester,  the  latter  must  have  been  magnificent 
in  all  its  parts  ; and  the  hospitality  which  he  there  dispensed 
was  of  the  most  generous  and  attractive  character. 

His  first  wife  died  without  children,  in  1771,  and  he 
subsequently  married  a sister  of  Thomas  Boylston,  whom 
he  also  survived. 

He  took  a decided  stand  in  favor  of  the  colonies,  and  from 
1775  till  his  death,  was  constantly  in  public  life. 


81 


Although,  not  liberally  educated,  he  was  a decided  friend 
and  patron  of  literary  men  and  institutions  of  learning,  and 
engaged  in  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  day. 

Among  other  associations  with  which  he  was  connected, 
was  the  ancient  and  venerable  Society  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel  among  the  Indians,  of  which  he  was  for  many  years 
the  president. 

He  laid  the  foundation  for  a public  library  in  Princeton, 
and,  as  has  already  been  stated,  made  a liberal  donation  of 
books  to  Leicester  Academy,  many  of  which  were  remaining 
till  within  a few  years,  and  contained  some  fine  editions  of 
the  Latin  classics. 

He  commenced  public  life  as  a member  of  the  Executive 
Council  of  the  Province,  which  answered,  in  many  respects,  to 
the  Senate  under  the  present  constitution. 

This  place  he  held,  by  annual  election,  until  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  government  under  the  constitution  of  1780,  when 
he  was  again  elected  to  the  Executive  Council. 

He  was  re-elected  to  this  office  annually,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  years,  till  1795,  when  he  was  chosen  Lieutenant 
Governor. 

As  the  original  design  of  the  constitution  was  that  the 
Council  should  be  chosen  from  the  body  of  the  Senate,  he 
was  annually  elected  a Senator  Lorn  the  County  of  Worcester, 
while  he  held  a seat  at  the  council  board. 

In  addition  to  thelrplace  of  councillor,  he  was,  from  1775 
to  1794,  one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
for  the  County  of  Worcester. 

At  the  first  election  of  representatives  to  Congress,  under 
the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  he  was  a candidate  for 
the  office,  but  was  defeated  by  the  Hon.  Jonathan  Grout,  of 
Petersham.  From  1795  to  1797,  Samuel  Adams  was  an- 
nually elected  Governor,  and  Mr.  Gill  Lieutenant  Governor, 
of  the  Commonwealth.  And  upon  Mr.  Adams  retiring  from 
office,  Mr.  Gill  and  Judge  Increase  Sumner  were  competitors 
for  the  office  he  had  held.  Mr.  Gill  was  defeated  in  the 


82 


election,  but  was  chosen  to  the  second  place.  He  and 
Gov.  Sumner  were  re-elected  for  the  years  1798—9,  but,  Gov. 
Sumner  dying  on  the  7th  of  June,  of  the  latter  year,  Mr. 
Gill  became  acting  Governor,  and  continued  to  perform  the 
functions  of  the  office  until  his  own  death.  May  20th,  1800. 

He  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-six,  at  his  residence  in  Boston, 
where  his  funeral  was  attended  with  solemnity  and  great  and 
imposing  effect.  His  pall-bearers  were  the  Hon.  Mr.  Jones, 
Bev.  D.  Howard,  Gen.  Lincoln,  Hon.  Judge  Dana,  Hon.  Mr. 
Bobins,  and  Hon.  Mr.  Phillips,  and  a long  procession  of 
State  and  United  States  officers  and  citizens  followed  his 
remains  to  the  place  of  burial. 

An  extract  from  an  obituary  notice  of  Gov.  Gill,  in  one  of 
the  papers  of  the  day,  indicates  the  estimation  in  which  he 
was  held: 

“ If  patriotism  has  a claim  to  gratitude  from  the  nation,  the  memory  of 
Mr.  Gill  will  be  embalmed.  If  industry,  prudence,  and  integrity  and  real 
goodness  of  heart,  ever  demand  respect  from  the  public,  his  tomb  will  be 
adorned.” 

He  died  without  children,  but  he  left  the  whole  community 
benefited  by  his  having  lived  and  having  devoted  his  energies 
in  educating  and  elevating  the  generation  in  which  he  acted. 
He  continued  to  be  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees,  and  its 
president,  until  his  death,  and  was  succeeded,  in  one  office,  by 
Hon.  William  Stedman,  and,  in  the  other,  by  Hon.  Levi 
Lincoln. 

Hon.  Samuel  Baker  belonged  to  Berlin,  and  was  named 
as  one  of  the  original  board  of  trustees  of  the  academy. 

He  was  a cotemporary  with  Gov.  Gill,  in  public  life,  though 
within  a more  limited  sphere. 

He  was  one  of  that  class  of  men,  so  numerous  in  his  day, 
whose  character  was  developed  by  the  circumstances  by  which 
he  was  surrounded,  rather  than  by  any  training  of  schools. 

He  was  a farmer,  and,  by  his  own  industry,  reared  and 
supported  a numerous  family. 


83 


Dr.  Whitney,  the  historian  of  Worcester  county,  gravely 
states,  in  his  account  of  Berlin,  that  Judge  Baker  erected 
there  “ a handsome  large  mansion  house  of  stone.” 

To  the  extent  of  his  ability  he  was  devoted  to  the  cause  of 
the  colonies,  and  in  1775  was  appointed  one  of  the  Judges  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  for  the  County  of  Worcester, 
which  office  he  held  till  his  death,  May  13,  1795,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-three. 

Prom  1780  to  1787,  he  was  annually  elected  to  the  Senate 
from  this  county ; and,  after  the  interval  of  a single  year,  he  was 
again  elected  for  the  year  1788,  and,  from  1790,  was  annually 
elected  to  the  same  place  till  his  death,  having,  the  last  year, 
been  a member  of  the  executive  council. 

It  will  be  recollected  that,  at  the  time  he  held  these  offices, 
it  was  not  deemed  essential,  even  for  a seat  on  the  Supreme 
Court  Bench,  that  the  incumbent  should  have  been  educated 
as  a lawyer ; and  there  was  no  incompatibility  between  the 
offices  of  Senator  and  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 

In  speaking  of  the  character  of  Judge  Baker,  a cotemporary 
writer  says : 

“While  we  trace  him  returning  from  his  unremitted  exertions  in  the 
senate,  to  the  labors  of  the  plough,  we  recall  the  manly  virtues  which  dis- 
tinguished the  first  Roman  republican.  In  him  were  united  the  virtues  of 
the  parent,  the  husband,  the  patriot,  and  the  Christian.” 

Judge  Baker  was~an  active  friend  of  this  institution.  As 
has  already  been  stated,  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  to 
whom  Col.  Crafts’  original  petition  was  committed,  and 
reported  the  act  of  incorporation.  He  continued,  till  his 
death,  a member  of  the  corporation*  and  was  succeeded  by 
Judge  Brigham. 

Bev.  Joseph  Pope,  when  appointed  a trustee,  was  minister 
of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Spencer.  He  was  elected 
secretary  of  the  board  at  its  first  organization,  April  7th,  1784, 
and  faithfully  performed  the  duties  of  the  office  for  sixteen 
years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Bev.  Dr.  Moore. 


84 


He  continued  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  till  1816, 
when  be  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Edwards 
Whipple. 

Mr.  Pope  was  bom  in  Brooklyn,  Conn.,  then  forming  a 
part  of  Pomfret,  September  28th,  1T46,  and  was  graduated 
at  Cambridge  in  1770.  He  was  then  employed  a year  in 
teaching  school  in  Worcester,  and  had,  for  a pupil,  among 
others,  the  late  Hon.  Timothy  Bigelow,  many  years  Speaker  of 
the  House  of  Representatives. 

After  that,  he  engaged  in  the  study  of  theology,  and,  upon 
being  licensed  to  preach,  supplied  the  pulpit  in  Uxbridge  for 
a few  months. 

He  was  settled  as  minister  of  the  Congregational  Church 
and  Society  in  Spencer,  July  17,  1773,  where  he  remained 
till  his  death,  March  8th,  1826. 

For  the  last  eight  years  of  his  life,  he  suffered  from  an 
attack  of  paralysis  to  that  degree  that  he  was  prevented  from 
performing  the  functions  of  his  office. 

He  was  a man  of  good  taste  and  handsome  literary  acquire- 
ments, and  a faithful  and  useful  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees. 

Upon  his  resigning  the  office  of  secretary,  in  1800,  the 
trustees  tendered  him  a vote  of  thanks  (C  for  his  long  and 
faithful  services  ” in  that  office. 

He  possessed,  in  an  eminent  degree,  rare  prudence  and 
sagacity.  His  manners  were  courteous  and  simple,  and  won 
for  him  the  respect  and  esteem  of  young  and  old. 

Through  a long  life  he  sustained  its  varied  relations  with 
honor  and  usefulness.  A faithful  parent,  a devoted  pastor, 
and  a Christian  gentleman. 

His  wife  still  survives,  having  passed  the  rare  climacteric 
of  an  hundred  years  on  the  16th  December,  1851,  with  pow- 
ers of  mind  and  body  still  vigorous,  and  retaining  the  same 
respect  of  the  present  which  she  won  for  herself  among  the 
generation  which  she  so  long  ago  followed  to  the  grave. 

Rev.  Thaddetjs  Maccarty.  Though  one  of  the  original 


85 


trustees,  he  held  the  office  but  a short  period,  haying  died  on 
the  28th  July,  1784,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three,  only  a little  more 
than  three  months  after  the  organization  of  the  corporation. 

He  was  born  in  Boston  in  1721,  and  was  graduated  at  Cam- 
bridge in  1739.  He  studied  theology,  and  was  settled  as  a 
minister  at  Kingston,  in  1742.  He  remained  there  three 
years. 

On  the  10th  June,  1747,  he  was  installed  over  the  Con- 
gregational Society  in  Worcester,  which  was  then  the  only 
religious  society  in  the  town,  where  now  they  number  at  least 
a score. 

He  remained  pastor  of  this  church  until  his  death.  And  a 
monument  to  his  memory,  erected  by  his  people,  bears  testi- 
mony to  his  amiable  virtues,  and  his  faithfulness  and  zeal  in 
the  service  of  his  divine  Master.  He  was  the  father  of  Nathan- 
iel Maccartv,  Esq.,  whose  legacy  to  the  academy  is  mentioned 
in  another  part  of  this  work. 

He  was  succeeded  in  his  place  at  the  board  by  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Grosvenor. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Conklin  was  the  first  vice-president  of  the 
board,  and  held  the  office  from  the  organization  of  the  corpo- 
ration till  his  death. 

He  was  bom  in  Southhold,  L.  I.,  in  1733,  and  was  gradu- 
ated at  Princeton  College,  New  Jersey. 

He  succeeded  Rev.  Mr.  Roberts  as  minister  of  the  then 
only  church  and  society  in  Leicester,  in  November,  1763. 
Here  he  married  the  widow  of  Dr.  Pliny  Lawton,  of  that 
town.  He  remained  the  pastor  of  this  church  till  June  30th, 
1794,  when  the  state  of  his  health  so  far  incapacitated  him 
from  performing  his  duties  in  that  office,  that  he  was  dis- 
missed from  it  by  his  own  consent. 

The  disease  with  which  he  was  afflicted  caused  him  great 
suffering,  from  which  he  was  only  relieved  by  death,  which 
took  place  January  30th,  1798,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five. 

Mr.  Conklin  was  not  a brilliant  preacher,  but  was  distin- 
guished for  his  sagacity  and  energy  as  a man.  During  the 
6 


86 


struggle  of  the  revolution,  and  the  subsequent  troubles  known 
as  “Shay’s  War,”  he  took  bold  and  decided  ground  in  favor 
of  liberty  and  law,  and  more  than  once  jeopardized  his  personal 
safety  by  the  fearless  manner  in  which  he  maintained  his  opin- 
ions. In  this  way,  he  exerted  much  influence  in  the  com- 
munity around  him,  in  which  he  found  many  kindred  spirits  ; 
for  in  no  part  of  the  State  were  there  found  truer  men  than 
within  the  circle  within  which  he  moved. 

Although  I have  no  record  of  the  fact,  I have  reason  to 
suppose  that  he,  more  than  once,  attended  the  troops  which 
were  called  into  service  from  Leicester  during  the  revolution 
as  chaplain  of  the  regiment  to  which  he  belonged. 

Such  a man  could  hardly  fail  to  render  efficient  aid  to  an 
institution  like  the  academy,  in  its  early  stages,  and,  as  one  of 
its  trustees,  his  services  were  highly  valuable.  It  passed 
through  its  darkest  period  while  he  was  connected  with  it, 
and  much  is  doubtless  due  to  his  exertions  as  a trustee  and  a 
citizen  of  the  town,  that  it  survived  that  crisis. 

He  was  succeeded,  as  minister  and  trustee  of  the  academy, 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moore. 

Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  was  a member  of  the  first  board,  and 
held  the  office  of  trustee  till  1802,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
the  Hon.  Nathaniel  Paine. 

Upon  the  death  of  Gov.  Gill,  he  was  elected  President  of 
the  board,  and  held  the  office  till  he  resigned  the  trust  alto- 
gether, and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sumner. 

The  life  and  history  of  Gov.  Lincoln  was  so  widely  and 
intimately  associated  with  the  history,  not  only  of  the  academy 
but  of  the  State  and  General  Governments,  that  it  would 
extend  these  sketches  altogether  beyond  their  contemplated 
length,  if  anything  like  a complete  account  were  attempted. 

He  was  born  in  Hingham,  May  5th,  1749,  and  served  an 
apprenticeship  as  a blacksmith.  Such  was  his  desire,  how- 
ever, to  obtain  an  education,  that,  after  this,  he  fitted  himself 
to  enter  Harvard  College,  and  was  graduated  in  1770. 

He  studied  law,  and  entered  upon  the  practice,  in  Worces- 
ter, where  he  rose  to  the  first  rank  in  his  profession. 


87 


Among  the  offices  which  he  held  at  different  times,  was 
that  of  Clerk  of  the  Courts,  and  Judge  of  Probate.  In  1781, 
he  declined  election  to  the  Continental  Congress  ; but,  in 
1800,  was  chosen  to  represent  this  district  in  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States. 

The  following  year,  he  was  appointed,  by  President  Jeffer- 
son, with  whom  he  was  on  terms  of  intimate  relation.  Attorney 
General  of  the  United  States,  and  held  the  office  about  four 
years. 

In  the  years  1807  and  ’8,  he  was  elected  Lieut.  Governor 
of  the  Commonwealth ; and.  Governor  Sullivan  having  died  in 
December  of  the  latter  year,  he  performed  the  duties  of  Chief 
Magistrate  till  the  following  May. 

Upon  the  decease  of  Judge  Cushing,  of  the  United  States 
Court,  Governor  Lincoln  was  appointed  to  a seat  on  that 
bench  in  1811,  but  declined  the  place  on  account  of  a weak- 
ness of  sight,  which  compelled  him  to  withdraw  from  public 
life. 

From  that  time,  till  his  death,  April  14th,  1820,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-one,  he  lived  in  honorable  and  dignified  retirement, 
upon  his  estate,  in  the  northerly  part  of  what  was  then  the 
village  of  Worcester. 

He  was  the  last  who  held  the  rank  and  title  of  Barrister  at 
Law  in  Worcester  County,  and  he  has  the  honor  of  having 
successfully  carried  through  the  cause  of  a negro  who  had  been 
a slave  before  the  adoption  of  the  constitution,  and  claimed,  by 
virtue  of  it,  to  be  emancipated  from  the  control  of  his  master. 
The  cause  was  determined  in  1783,  and  settled  the  question 
in  favor  of  liberty. 

The  last  years  of  Governor  Lincoln’s  life  were  devoted  to 
science  and  literature,  and  the  pursuits  of  agriculture,  for  all 
which  he  had  a decided  taste  and  fondness. 

He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  was  the  first  President  of 
the  Worcester  County  Agricultural  Society. 

If,  in  the  angry  discussions  which  were  prompted  by 


88 


political  and  partisan  feeling,  remarks  of  a severe  and  censo- 
rious character  were  indulged  in,  towards  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  he  lived  to  see  them  forgotten,  or  remembered  only 
as  the  short-lived  but  bitter  fruits  of  that  party  spirit  which 
has  so  often  agitated  this  community. 

His  private  character  was  above  reproach,  and  the  memorv 
of  his  public  life  is  preserved  in  the  annals  of  our  State  and 
National  Governments. 

His  son,  of  the  same  name,  who  well  sustained,  if  he  did 
not  add  to,  the  reputation  of  the  father,  at  a subsequent  period, 
lent  his  aid  and  influence  to  the  academy,  as  the  father  had 
done  in  its  infancy. 

Hon.  Seth  TV  ashboln  was  also  of  the  original  hoard  of 
trustees,  and  a strong  and  active  friend  of  the  institution  from 
the  first.  Being  a member  of  the  Senate  at  the  time,  he  was 
employed  by  Colonel  Crafts  to  present  his  petition  for  its 
incorporation,  and  lent  his  aid  to  the  measure. 

He  continued  a member  of  the  board  till  his  death,  in 
1794,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Colonel  Thomas  Denny. 

He  was  bora  at  Bridgewater,  in  1723,  and,  at  an  early  age, 
removed  to  Middletown,  Conn.  From  there  he  removed, 
with  his  father,  to  Leicester,  in  1750,  where  he  married  and 
established  himself  in  his  trade  as  a blacksmith. 

Though  his  education  must  have  been  very  defective,  he 
seems  to  have  had  the  power  of  convincing  and  controlling  the 
minds  of  others,  to  a more  than  ordinary  extent.  He  early 
took  an  active  part  in  the  measures  of  the  revolution,  and 
was  in  command  of  a company  of  minute-men,  with  whom 
he  marched,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  19th  April,  1775,  for 
Cambridge,  upon  hearing  of  the  march  of  the  British  troops 
for  Concord. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  troops  at  Cambridge,  he  had 
the  command  of  a company  in  the  regiment  of  Colonel  TV ard, 
and  took  an  active  part  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

He  continued  in  the  service  for  the  term  of  eight  months, 
when,  the  period  of  the  enlistment  of  his  men  having  expired. 


89 


he  returned  to  Leicester,  where  he  was  engaged  in  various 
public  duties  connected  with  the  war,  till  the  return  of  peace. 

He  never,  in  fact,  resumed  his  trade  after  leaving  it  in 
April,  ’75.  After  that  period,  he  occupied  a farm,  and  was, 
much  of  his  time,  engaged  in  public  life. 

He  often  represented  Leicester  in  the  General  Court,  and, 
for  several  years,  was  a member  of  the  Senate,  from  the 
county  of  Worcester. 

In  the  management  of  the  fiscal  and  economical  concerns 
of  the  academy.  Colonel  Washburn  appears  from  the  records 
to  have  taken  a leading  and  active  part,  and  the  influence 
which  he  was  able  to  command  in  the  community  was 
employed  in  promoting  its  success. 

He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy,  leaving  a large  family  of 
children ; none  of  whom,  or  their  descendants,  now  remain  in 
the  town,  though  several  of  these  have  been  educated  at  the 
academy  which  their  ancestor  helped  to  found.* 

Gen.  Rufus  Putnam,  also  of  the  first  board  of  trustees, 
belonged  to  Rutland.  He  was  bom  in  Sutton,  in  1738,  and 
was  bred  to  the  trade  of  a millwright.  He  at  first  settled  in 
Brookfield. 

He  served  with  great  honor  and  distinction  as  an  officer  in 
the  revolutionary  army,  and  was  among  the  most  distinguished 
engineers  in  the  army.  As  such,  he  is  highly  spoken  of  by 
General  Washington,  in  letters  to  the  President  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress.  He  possessed  much  of  the  confidence 
of  the  commander-in-chief. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  he  had  the  command  of 
a regiment,  but,  in  January,  ’83,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Brigadier-general . 

In  1782,  the  estates  of  Colonel  Murray,  a noted  tory, 
belonging  to  Rutland,  having  been  confiscated  by  the  govern- 
ment, were  sold,  and  one  of  his  farms  were  purchased  by 
Colonel  Putnam,  to  which  he  removed  the  same  year. 

* Among  these,  I may  mention  the  Hon.  Eeuben,  of  Ludlow,  Vermont,  once  a Judge  of  the 
Court  of  that  county;  Hon.  Ebenezer  D.,  a Judge  in  Alabama,  in  which  State  he  died;  and 
Dr.  Seth,  a Physician,  who  died  in  Greenfield,  grandsons  of  Colonel  Seth. 


90 


He  was  an  early  and  active  associate  of  the  Ohio  Company, 
formed  for  the  purposes  of  settling  that,  then,  unexplored 
region,  and  in  1789  removed  to  Marietta,  of  which  city  he 
was  the  founder. 

During  his  residence  in  Rutland,  he  shared  freely  in  the 
duties  and  honors  of  the  municipal  offices  of  the  town,  having 
served  as  constable,  collector  of  taxes,  selectman,  and  repre- 
sentative of  the  town  in  the  General  Court. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Indian  war,  in  1791,  he  was 
again  appointed  to  the  command  of  a brigade  of  troops  under 
Gen.  Wayne,  in  the  army  of  the  United  States ; and  his  plan 
for  the  campaign  is  spoken  of  in  terms  of  decided  approbation 
in  a letter  from  Gen.  Washington  to  Gen.  Knox,  then 
Secretary  of  War,  in  August,  1792. 

The  formation  and  accomplishment  of  the  scheme  of 
settling  Ohio,  demanded  much  time  and  great  energy  and 
perseverance  on  the  part  of  Gen.  Putnam.  It  was  begun  in 
1786,  but  the  first  company  of  emigrants  did  not  leave  New 
England  till  the  spring  of  1788,  when,  with  forty  others,  he 
began  the  settlement  of  Marietta.  His  selection  of  this 
spot  has  been  severely  criticized,  as  the  advantages  of  other 
localities,  which  he  might  have  chosen,  have  been  developed. 
But  it  should  he  remembered  that  the  whole  region  was  then 
a wilderness,  and  he  was  moreover  misled  as  to  the  quality  of 
the  land,  and  the  eligibility  of  the  site,  by  the  information  he 
acquired  from  others  who  had  explored  the  country. 

He  removed  his  family;  consisting  of  his  wife  and  eight 
children,  one  of  them  a married  daughter,  in  1789,  and  from 
that  period  his  interests  became  identified  with  those  of  that 
thriving  and  prosperous  Commonwealth. 

And  such  was  its  rapidity  of  growth,  that  he  lived  to  see 
seven  hundred  thousand  people  occupy  a region  which  he 
entered  as  a pioneer,  after  having  acquired  a distinguished 
reputation  by  a life  of  no  inconsiderable  length  in  his  native 
State. 

In  1789,  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of 


91 


the  North-west  Territory,  and,  in  1795,  was  made  Surveyor- 
General  of  that  Territory. 

He  was  a member  of  the  committee  that  formed  the  consti- 
tution of  the  State  of  Ohio  ; and  lived  to  be  the  last  surviving 
general  officer,  with  the  exception  of  La  Fayette,  of  the 
revolution. 

He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  May  1st,  1824. 

He  was,  as  has  been  stated,  a liberal  benefactor  to  the 
academy  ; and,  until  his  resignation  of  his  place  on  the  board 
of  trustees,  upon  his  removal  to  Ohio,  was  an  active  promoter 
of  its  interests.  He  was  succeeded  in  that  office  by  the  Hon. 
Dwight  Foster. 

If  it  was  properly  within  the  sphere  of  this  report,  it  would 
be  pleasant  to  trace  the  indirect  influence  which  has  been 
exerted  upon  the  community  founded  by  Gen.  Putnam,  now 
one  of  the  principal  States  of  the  Union,  by  an  institution 
which  he  helped  to  found  here  in  the  interior  of  Massachusetts. 
Many  of  the  men  whose  influence  has  been  felt  in  the  affairs 
of  that  State,  received  their  early  education  at  this  academy, 
and  thus  it  may  be  said  of  Gen.  Putnam,  as  of  other  good 
men,  that  his  works  have  followed  him. 

Hon.  Joseph  Allen,  one  of  the  original  board  of  trustees, 
belonged  to  Worcester.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  September 
2d,  1749,  his  mother  being  a sister  of  Gov.  Samuel  Adams. 

He  was  bred  to  the  business  of  a merchant,  and,  in  1771, 
removed  to  Leicester,  where  he  erected  a dwelling-house 
upon  the  spot  afterwards  occupied  by  the  academy,  and 
engaged  in  trade  in  a store  standing  near  it. 

He  was  a fine  English  and  classical  scholar,  and  many  of 
the  spirited  resolutions  that  gave  so  much  interest  to  the 
town  of  Leicester,  in  the  early  part  of  the  revolutionary 
struggle,  may  be  traced  to  the  pen  of  Mr.  Allen. 

He  was,  from  the  first,  a bold,  resolute,  and  determined 
Whig,  and  found  in  Mr.  Conklin,  the  Henshaws,  Dennys, 
and  other  leading  spirits  of  that  town,  a ready  and  hearty 
cooperation.  If  there  were  any  of  a different  sentiment 


92 


there,  they  were  too  inconsiderable  in  number  or  influence  to 
mar  essentially  the  harmony  or  efficiency  of  the  action  of  these 
patriots. 

I know  none  of  the  best  productions  of  the  day  which  excel 
the  instructions  and  resolutions  which  were  drawn  by  Mr. 
Allen,  upon  the  topics  which  were  then  agitating  the  public 
mind. 

In  1776,  he  removed  to  Worcester,  and  was  made  Clerk  of 
the  Courts  of  the  County,  which  office  he  filled  with  great 
fidelity  and  acceptance  until  1810. 

He  was  a member  of  the  United  States  Congress  during 
one  term,  1809—10,  but  declined  reelection. 

From  1815  to  1818,  he  was  a member  of  the  Executive 
Council,  and  was  twice  an  elector  of  President. 

In  the  performance  of  all  his  duties,  Mr.  Allen  was  dis- 
tinguished for  promptness,  accuracy,  and  uncompromising 

His  connection  with  the  academy  was  as  honorable  to 
himself  as  it  was  useful  to  the  institution. 

Originally  a donor  to  its  funds,  upon  its  organization  he 
was  made  its  first  treasurer,  and  continued  to  hold  and 
manage  its  funds  till  his  resignation  of  the  place  of  trustee  in 
1819. 

This,  of  course,  embraced  the  dark  period  of  its  early 
struggles,  when  its  finances  were  deranged,  and  the  deprecia- 
tion of  the  securities  in  which  its  funds  were  invested,  had 
well-nigh  rendered  the  institution  bankrupt. 

Under  circumstances  like  these,  a spirit  less  resolute  would 
have  shrunk  from  the  irksome  task  of  trying  to  sustain  its 
failing  credit. 

He  lived  to  .see  its  affairs  more  prosperous,  and  upon 
retiring  from  the  place,  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
his  services  had  been  appreciated.  The  trustees,  on  that 
occasion,  adopted  a unanimous  vote, 

“ That  the  faithful,  valuable,  and  continued  attention  and  services,  from 
the  establishment  of  this  institution  to  the  present  time,  of  the  Hon.  Joseph 


93 


Allen,  in  the  office  of  trustee,  and  in  the  gratuitous  discharge  of  the  arduous 
and  responsible  duties  of  treasurer,  by  which  the  funds,  and  all  accruing  and 
resulting  interest,  have  been  remarkably  secured  without  loss  or  diminution 
to  the  most  inconsiderable  amount,  and  by  whose  care  and  vigilance  the 
funds  are  now  received  at  his  hands  unimpaired  in  value  or  security,  deserve 
the  high  regard  and  grateful  acknowledgments  of  the  corporation  of  this 
institution. 

“ Unanimously  Resolved , That  the  above  expression  of  sentiments  of  the 
board,  on  this  subject,  be  entered  on  the  records,  with  an  assurance  of  the 
personal  respect  of  the  members  of  this  board,  and  their  great  regret  at  his 
resignation.” 

This  was  but  an  expression  of  one  portion  of  the  commu- 
nity of  the  respect  which  all  felt,  and  which  he  continued  to 
hold  in  the  public  mind  as  long  as  he  lived. 

He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight,  September  2d,  1827, 
retaining  to  the  last  the  taste  of  a scholar,  and  the  urbanity  of 
a gentleman. 

Two  of  his  sons  were  in  part  educated  at  the  academy, 
the  Hon.  Charles  Allen  and  the  Rev.  George  Allen,  both  of 
Worcester,  the  latter  of  whom,  as  will  hereafter  appear,  was 
for  many  years  a trustee  of  the  institution. 

Mr.  Allen  was  succeeded  in  his  office  of  treasurer  by  the 
Hon.  Levi  Lincoln,  Jr.,  and  as  trustee  by  the  Hon.  Abijah 
Bigelow. 

Rev.  Joseph  Sumner,  D.D.,  was  of  the  original  board  of 
trustees,  and  belonged  to  Shrewsbury.  In  1800,  he  succeeded 
Dr.  Fiske,  as  vice  president  of  the  board ; and  in  1802  was 
elected  president,  upon  the  resignation  of  Gov.  Lincoln. 

He  held  the  latter  office  till  1818,  when  he  resigned  his 
place  at  the  board. 

He  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Conn.,  in  1739,  and  in  1762 
settled  over  the  Congregational  Church  and  Society  in 
Shrewsbury.  This  relation  he  held,  without  any  colleague, 
until  1820 ; and  from  that  time  till  his  death,  in  1824, 
retained  it  in  connection  with  a colleague,  so  that  he  held  the 
place  of  pastor  for  the  almost  unprecedented  period  of  sixty- 
three  years. 


94 


He  was  graduated  at  Yale  College*  in  1759*  and  in  1814 
received  the  honorary  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Harvard  and  the 
College  of  South  Carolina. 

As  illustrative  of  his  fidelity*  as  well  as  physical  ability*  in 
the  duties  of  his  office*  it  is  said  that  he  was  absent  from  his 
pulpit*  from  sickness  or  absence  from  town*  only  seven 
Sabbaths  in  fifty-seven  years*  and  never  on  the  occasion  of 
communion  service*  for  the  period  of  sixty-two  years. 

He  belonged  to  that  class  of  clergymen  in  New  England 
•who  took  a deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  the  colonies*  and 
spared  no  occasion  which  offered  for  encouraging  his  people 
to  bear  their  share  in  the  burdens  of  the  war.  And  it  is 
difficult  to  measure*  at  this  day*  the  extent  of  that  influence 
which  was  thus  exerted.  Others  fought  the  battles,  and  won 
the  renown  and  glory  of  achieving  the  American  independence* 
but  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that*  had  it  not  been  for  the 
sacred  fire  which  was  kept  alive  upon  the  altars  of  the  churches 
and  homes  of  New  England*  by  its  pastors  and  the  wives  and 
mothers  of  those  who  were  called  into  the  field*  that  struggle 
would  have  died  away  ingloriously. 

Dr.  Sumner  was  an  ardent  and  consistent  friend  of  the 
cause  of  education*  and  devoted  himself  to  encourage  the 
schools  of  his  own  town*  as  well  as  the  academy  with  which 
he  was  connected. 

I have  already  spoken  of  his  public  services  on  more  than 
one  occasion  in  connection  with  the  academy.  And  I only 
need  add  that  he  was  ever  ready  and  faithful  in  the  perform- 
ance of  his  duties  towards  the  institution. 

There  was  a dignity  and  grace  in  the  manner  in  which 
these  were  performed  which  could  not  fail  to  impress  evqry 
one  with  favor  and  respect.  That  venerable  air*  made  more 
striking  by  the  immense  white  wig  which  he  wore  and  was 
once  common  to  the  elderly  clergymen  of  New  England* 
marked  him  at  once  as  belonging  to  an  age  that  had  well- 
nigh  passed  away. 

The  estimation  in  which  his  services  were  held  by  his 


95 


associates  on  tlie  board  of  trustees  was  evinced  by  their  votes 
on  the  occasion  of  bis  resigning  the  office  of  president.  They 
reciprocated  the  grateful  recollection  of  bis  intercourse  with 
them.  They  tendered . him  their  thanks  for  his  faithful 
services  as  their  president,  devoutly  wished  him,  under  the 
infirmities  of  age,  the  consolation  of  that  religion  which  he 
had  so  long  preached  to  others,  and  prayed  that  the  labors 
of  the  present  life  might  be  succeeded  by  a crown  of  immor- 
tality. 

His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ban- 
croft, his  successor  in  the  presidency  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees, and  was  a fit  tribute  to  his  worth. 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Josiah  Clark  in  his  place  as 
trustee. 

One  of  his  sons  was  successively  preceptor  of  the  English 
department,  and  principal  of  the  academy,  and  will  be 
noticed  in  another  part  of  this  report. 

Rev.  Joshua  Paine,  of  Sturbridge,  was  of  the  original 
clerical  members  of  the  board.  He  was  five  years  the  senior 
of  Dr.  Sumner,  was  born  in  the  same  town,  graduated  the 
same  year,  at  the  same  college.  Besides  this,  he  received  a 
call  to  settle  in  Shrewsbury,  before  an  invitation  was  given 
to  Dr.  Sumner,  which  call  he  declined. 

In  1761,  he  succeeded  the  Rev.  Caleb  Rice,  as  minister  of 
the  CongregationalJSociety  in  Sturbridge,  and  held  that  office 
until  his  death,  December  28th,  1799,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
five  years. 

He  was  a respectable  preacher,  and  a faithful  pastor,  beloved 
and  esteemed  by  his  people  for  his  many  amiable  and  excel- 
lent qualities. 

His  ministerial  life  covered  the  eventful  period  of  the 
American  war,  the  formation  of  the  State  and  United  States 
constitutions,  and  the  insurrection  under  Shays. 

In  all  these  events,  he  took  a deep  interest,  and  he  volun- 
tarily gave  up  a portion  of  his  salary  to  enable  his  parishioners 
to  meet  their  share  of  the  burden  of  the  war,  and,  on  one 


96 


occasion,  contributed  a barrel  of  gunpowder  from  bis  own 
resources  to  aid  on  the  struggle. 

To  men  of  this  day,  the  secret  is  incomprehensible  how  the 
clergymen  of  the  last  century  were  able,  from  their  limited 
salaries,  to  live  so  respectably,  accomplish  so  much,  and  be, 
in  fact,  so  independent.  Though  not  a worldly  man,  and 
though  devoted  to  his  profession,  Mr.  Paine,  upon  a salary 
of  $222,  was  able  to  support  his  family,  and  educate  two  of 
his  sons  at  college,  one  of  whom  became  a minister,  and  the 
other  a lawyer. 

He  was  an  active  friend  of  education,  and  was  a useful 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  this  academy  for  fifteen 
years. 

There  is  little  in  the  life  of  such  a man  to  fill  the  pages  of 
a biography,  and  it  is  by  the  unconscious  influence  they  exert 
that  they  make  themselves  felt  upon  their  generation.  Mr. 
Paine  had  his  full  share  of  this  kind  of  influence,  and  the 
world  was  better  for  his  having  lived. 

He  was  a member  of  the  trustees  till  his  death,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Dr.  Bancroft. 

Rev.  Archibald  Campbell  was  the  minister  of  Charlton, 
and  the  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Campbell,  a native  of  Scotland, 
who  was  the  first  minister  of  Oxford. 

He  was  graduated  at  Cambridge,  in  1761,  and  in  1763, 
was  settled  over  a church  and  society  in  Easton,  where  he 
remained  for  twenty  years,  when  he  was  dismissed  from 
Easton,  and  settled  in  Charlton.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  pos- 
sessed of  respectable  powers,  good  attainments,  and  consistent 
religious  character.  But  imputations  unfavorable  to  his  char- 
acter having  arisen,  he  was  dismissed  from  his  pastoral  charge 
in  1793,  and  left  the  Commonwealth.  He  resigned  his  place 
at  the  board  in  1795. 

After  leaving  Charlton,  he  continued  to  preach,  at  first  in 
Cornish,  N.  H.,  then  in  Putney,  Vermont,  and  afterwards,  in 
1801,  removed  to  Stockbridge,  Vermont,  though  he  never  was 
settled  as  a minister. 


97 


He  outlived  the  reproach  under  which  he  was  laboring 
when  he  left  Charlton,  but  misfortunes  clouded  his  latter 
days,  and,  poor  and  blind,  he  was  left  dependent  upon  public 
charity  for  his  support,  for  several  years  before  his  death. 
He  died  in  Stockbridge,  in  July,  1818,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two,  leaving  one  daughter,  now  living  in  that  town.* 

The  Rev  Dr.  Fisk  succeeded  him  as  a trustee  of  the 
academy. 

Hon.  Timothy  Danielson,  of  Brimfield,  completes  the  list 
of,  what  it  is  no  exaggeration  to  call,  the  remarkable  men  who 
constituted  the  first  Board  of  Trustees  of  Leicester  Academy. 

Many  of  these  would  have  been  strong  and  prominent  men 
in  any  community,  and  under  any  ordinary  circumstances.  But 
most  of  them  had  peculiar  means  of  developing  and  calling 
into  exercise  the  qualities  of  their  minds  and  character. 

Of  this  class  was  Gen.  Danielson. 

He  was  born  in  Brimfield,  and  was  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege, in  1756. 

I do  not  find  that  he  studied  any  profession,  but  he  early 
came  into  public  life,  and  acted  a prominent  part  in  the  scenes 
which  rendered  the  period  from  his  leaving  college  till  his 
death,  so  memorable  in  our  history. 

He  was  chairman  of  the  convention  of  Hampshire  County, 
in  1774,  and  a member  of  the  three  Provincial  Congresses,  that 
were  convened  in  Massachusetts,  in  1774  and  ’5,  in  which  he 
held  a commanding  rank  among  the  distinguished  men  of 
whom  they  were  composed. 

Among  other  delicate  and  responsible  duties,  delegated  to 
him  by  that  congress,  was  that  of  repairing  to  Connecticut  in 
April,  1775,  to  solicit  the  cooperation  of  that  .colony  with 
Massachusetts  in  raising  an  army. 

Gen.  James  Warren,  at  the  same  time,  was  chosen  a delegate 
to  visit  Rhode  Island,  and  Hon.  Elbridge  Gerry  to  visit  New 
Hampshire,  for  the  same  purpose. 


* I am  indebted  to  Merrick  Gay,  Esq.,  of  Stockbridge,  for  information  as  to  the  time  of 
Mr.  Campbell's  death. 


98 


The  same  year,  he  was  commissioned  by  Congress  to  com- 
mand one  of  the  regiments  raised  by  this  colony  for  the 
service. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  courts,  after  the  adoption  of 
the  constitution,  he  was  made  Chief  Justice  of  the  Common 
Pleas,  for  the  County  of  Hampshire. 

In  person,  he  was  large  and  finely  formed.  His  bearing 
was  that  of  a man  fitted  to  command,  and  he  was  always 
distinguished  for  firmness  and  energy  of  character. 

Por  many  years  he  was  Major  General  of  the  troops  in  the 
County  of  Hampshire,  when  that  office  was  deemed  one  of 
honor  and  influence. 

In  whatever  position  he  was  placed,  he  exerted  a command- 
ing influence  in  advancing  and  improving  society  around  him. 

He  was,  in  short,  one  of  that  class  of  bold  and  able  men, 
who  were  made  for  or  by  the  circumstances  in  which  they 
were  placed,  to  carry  forward  the  war  of  the  revolution,  and 
settle  and  establish  a wise  form  of  civil  government,  after  the 
struggle  was  over.  And,  as  such,  he  left  a decided  and  last- 
ing mark  upon  the  community  in  which  he  acted. 

He  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight,  leaving  two  sons  ; and  his 
widow  became  the  wife  of  the  distinguished  General  Eaton, 
whose  services,  in  the  war  with  Tripoli,  in  1805,  commanded 
such  general  admiration. 

The  connection  of  General  Danielson  with  this  academy 
was  but  brief,  and  his  health,  during  that  time,  was  such, 
that  he  took  but  little  part  in  the  duties  of  a trustee.  He 
resigned  his  place  in  1786,  and  died  September  19th,  1791. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Jonas  Howe,  Esq.,  in  the  board  of 
trustees. 

If,  as  we  trace  the  names  and  characters  of  those  who  have 
successively  filled  the  places  once  occupied  by  the  men  of 
whom  I have  spoken,  we  find  men  less  prominent,  or  less 
generally  known,  than  these,  it  should  not  lead  us  to  conclude 
that  they  have  therefore  been  less  able  and  devoted  guardians 


99 


of  the  institution.  Institutions  of  the  kind  have  multiplied, 
and  each  has,  to  some  extent,  attracted  a local  interest  to  itself, 
and  called  to  its  aid  the  men  of  influence  in  its  neighborhood. 
Besides,  the  effect  of  this  and  similar  institutions,  and  the 
improvement  in  our  schools,  have  done  so  much  to  diffuse 
education  through  the  community,  that  there  is  a much  less 
marked  distinction  between  men  than  there  once  was.  Not 
that  the  men  of  eminent  capacity  are  fewer  than  they  once 
were,  but  the  masses  generally  have  been  brought  up  more 
nearly  to  a level  with  the  leading  minds  in  the  Common- 
wealth. 

But,  while  it  may  not  be  in  good  taste  to  institute  compari- 
sons between  those  who  now  constitute  the  board,  and  those 
of  a former  period,  I may  with  confidence  say,  while  speaking 
of  the  past,  that  the  academy  has  little  cause  to  regard  the 
successors  of  the  first  body  of  her  trustees  as  having  failed  to 
sustain  the  reputation  which  that  board  justly  possessed. 

The  first  one  elected  to  fill  a vacancy  at  the  board,  was  in 
the  place  of  the  Bev.  Mr.  Maccarty.  This  was  the 
Rev.  Daniel  Grosvenor,  July  4th,  1785. 

He  then  belonged  to  Grafton.  He  was  born  in  Pomfret, 
Conn.,  1749,  and  was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1769,  so 
that  three  of  the  reverend  trustees  of  the  academy  that  were 
then  associated,  were  natives  of  the  same  town,  and  graduates 
of  the  same  college. 

In  1774,  he  was  settled  over  the  church  and  society  in 
Grafton,  and  remained  there  until  1788,  when  he  was  dis- 
missed from  his  charge,  on  account  of  his  failing  health. 

In  1794,  having  regained  his  health,  he  was  again  settled 
over  the  church  and  society  in  Paxton,  and  remained  there  till 
180£,  when  he  was  again  dismissed. 

At  a period  somewhat  subsequent  to  this,  he  removed  to 
Petersham,  where  he  resided  till  his  death,  July  22d,  1834, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five.  Among  the  incidents  which  serve 
to  illustrate  his  character  as  a man,  when  the  alarm  of  the 
march  of  the  British  troops  on  Lexington  reached  Grafton, 


100 


the  company  of  minute-men  which  had  been  raised,  and  of 
which  Mr.  Grosvenor  was  a member,  marched  at  once  for  the 
scene  of  action,  and,  shouldering  his  musket,  he  as  promptly 
took  post  in  its  ranks,  and  marched  with  them  to  Cambridge. 
It  was  of  such  stuff  that  the  revolution  was  made.  And, 
doubtless,  from  the  camp  of  that  company,  there  went  up, 
morning  and  evening,  as  sincere  prayers,  and  from  as  devout 
hearts,  as  were  ever  heard  within  the  walls  of  a sanctuarv.  And 
if  this  was  a reminiscence  of  575,  instead  of  a literary  institu- 
tion, I might  speak  of  another  of  its  trustees,  who,  when 
leading  his  company  into  the  fight  of  the  17th  June,  called 
them  together,  while  the  balls  were  heard  whistling  thickly 
around  them,  and,  calmly  offering  up  a prayer,  as  he  had  often 
done  in  their  hearing  at  home,  pointed  to  the  place  in  the  line 
where  he  proposed  to  post  them,  and,  at  the  same  time,  gave 
permission  to  any  one  then  to  withdraw  from  the  field.  It  is 
hardly  necessary  to  say,  that  no  one  availed  himself  of  the 
permission. 

Mr.  Grosvenor  was  a respectable  preacher  and  useful 
pastor.  His  health  prevented  his  attaining  eminence  in  his 
profession. 

He  resigned  his  place  at  the  board  of  trustees  in  1815,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Mr.  Stone. 

The  late  Jonathan  P.  Grosvenor,  Esq.,  of  Paxton,  and  Rev. 
Cyrus  P.  Grosvenor,  were  sons  of  the  subject  of  this  notice. 

Thomas  Newhall,  Esq.,  of  Leicester,  succeeded  Col. 
Davis,  in  November,  1786. 

He  was  a native  of  Leicester,  bom  1732.  He  was  an 
intelligent,  independent  farmer,  and  lived  upon  a farm  now 
owned  by  Mr.  Robert  Watson,  adjoining  the  town  of  Spencer, 
upon  the  great  post  road. 

He  was,  as  we  have  seen,  an  original  contributor  to  the 
funds  of  the  academy,  and  was  always  a friend  of  the  institu- 
tion. He  was  an  active  and  useful  member  of  the  board, 
from  his  election  till  his  death,  in  1814,  and  illustrated  in  his 
life,  how  useful  and  honorable  may  be  the  career  of  a man  of 


101 


respectable  natural  powers,  even  though  limited  to  the  sphere 
of  private  life,  who  is  willing  to  devote  his  efforts  in  advancing 
the  cause  of  learning  and  the  improvement  of  his  fellow-men. 

He  was  possessed  of  considerable  wealth,  and  having  no 
children,  he  made  the  academy  and  his  native  town  objects  of 
his  bounty.  I have  mentioned  the  sums  he  left  by  will  to 
the  institution ; and  as  generation  after  generation  of  the 
children  of  that  town  share  in  the  provision  he  made  for  their 
instruction,  in  the  academy,  humble  as  it  was,  his  name  will 
be  retained  in  grateful  remembrance. 

He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-five,  and  the  epitaph  upon  his 
tomb-stone,  unlike  most  such  compositions,  does  no  more 
than  justice  to  his  character  : 

“ Generous  and  patriotic  through  life,  at  an  advanced  age  he  became  a 
liberal  benefactor  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town,  and  to  the  literary  institu- 
tion established  therein.” 

He  was  succeeded,  in  the  place  of  trustee,  by  Dr.  Austin 
Flint. 

Jonas  Howe,  Esq.,  of  Rutland,  was  chosen  to  succeed 
Gen.  Danielson,  in  November,  1786. 

He  was  born  in  that  town,  November  6th,  1743,  and  was 
the  son  of  Moses  Howe. 

He  was  a farmer,  and  a highly  respectable  and  useful 
citizen.  His  fellow-citizens  manifested  their  respect  for  him 
in  electing  him  to  most  of  the  offices,  in  succession,  within 
their  gift.  Thus,  *at  different  times,  he  was  a selectman, 
assessor,  treasurer,  and  representative  in  the  General  Court, 
and  in  1775  a member  of  the  second  Provincial  Congress. 
In  all  these  places  he  commanded  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  the  public.  He  was  a deacon  of  the  church,  and  an  active 
magistrate  in  the  county ; and,  to  quote  from  an  obituary 
notice  of  his  character,  “ in  all  his  walks  in  life  manifested  a 
love  of  virtue,  of  truth  and  religion.” 

The  records  of  the  trustees  show  that  he  was  an  active  and 
useful  member  of  that  board.  In  matters  of  business,  where 


102 


good  sense  and  sound  judgment  were  required,  his  services 
were  often  called  into  exercise. 

He  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine,  in  1812,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Hon.  Aaron  Tufts. 

Hon.  Dwight  Foster  was  chosen  to  fill  the  place  of  Gen. 
Putnam,  May  19th,  1791.  He  belonged  to  Brookfield. 

He  was  the  son  of  Hon.  Jedediah  Foster,  one  of  the 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  brother  of  Hon.  Theodore 
Foster,  a Senator  in  Congress  from  Rhode  Island,  from  1790 
to  1803. 

He  was  graduated  at  Brown  University,  in  1774,  at  the 
age  of  seventeen ; and  having  studied  law  he  commenced  the 
practice  of  the  profession  in  Providence,  but  removed  to 
Brookfield  in  1779,  and  was  soon  largely  engaged  in  business. 

In  1792,  he  was  appointed  sheriff  of  the  county,  and  held 
the  office  for  one  year. 

In  1793,  he  was  chosen  to  Congress,  and  held  a seat  in  that 
body  till  1801. 

In  1799,  he  was  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas,  and  held  the  office  two  years. 

In  1800,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States, 
for  the  balance  of  a term,  and  held  the  place  till  1803. 

In  all  these  various  offices,  he  brought  to  the  performance 
of  their  duties  great  assiduity,  diligence  and  fidelity,  and  won 
the  confidence  and  favor  of  his  fellow-citizens. 

In  his  person,  he  was  of  a large  and  commanding  figure ; his 
bearing  was  mild  and  dignified,  and,  in  his  associations  with 
all,  he  was  distinguished  for  urbanity  and  amenity  of  manners. 
And  the  various  offices  of  honor  and  trust  which  he  was 
successfully  called  to  fill,  were  evidence  of  the  high  estimate 
in  which  he  was  held  by  the  people  of  the  Commonwealth. 

He  was  a useful  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
academy,  and  always  had  a lively  interest  in  its  success. 

After  leaving  the  bench  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas, 
he  resided  in  retirement,  at  his  seat  in  Brookfield,  till  1818, 
when,  for  a single  year,  he  was  a member  of  the  Executive 
Council. 


103 


The  same  year  he  resigned  his  place  as  a trustee,  and  died 
April  29th,  1823,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six. 

He  was  the  father  of  the  Hon.  Alfred  Dwight  Foster,  who 
subsequently  was  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees,  and  fully 
sustained  the  character  and  reputation  of  the  father. 

Judge  Foster  was  succeeded  at  the  board  by  Gen.  Salem 
Towne. 

Hon.  Timothy  Neyvhall,  of  Sturbridge,  succeeded  Col. 
Crafts,  as  a trustee,  October  2d,  1792. 

He  was  born  in  Needham,  in  1742,  and  removed  early  to 
Sturbridge,  where  he  was,  for  many  years,  employed  as  a 
mechanic. 

He  subsequently  engaged  in  trade,  which,  with  agriculture, 
were  afterwards  the  business  of  his  life. 

He  had,  naturally,  a strong  and  active  mind,  and,  though 
wholly  self-taught,  he  acquired  a store  of  useful  knowledge, 
which,  with  good,  practical  common  sense,  for  which  he  was 
distinguished,  enabled  him  to  meet  the  demands  which  were 
made  upon  his  services,  in  various  responsible  offices,  with 
acceptance  and  success. 

He  commanded  a company  of  minute-men,  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war  of  the  revolution,  but  entered  the  army 
as  brigade  major,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  colonel  before  quit- 
ting the  service. 

During  the  “ Shay’s  Rebellion,”  as  it  was  called,  he  was 
again  called  into  acTive  service,  and  proved  himself  a firm  and 
efficient  supporter  of  the  government. 

From  1791  to  1794,  he  was  a member  of  the  Senate  from 
the  County  of  Worcester,  and  in  1807  was  a member  of  the 
Executive  Council. 

He  resigned  his  place  at  the  board  of  trustees  in  1797,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  February  5th,  1819. 

General  Newhall  was  a man  of  no  ordinary  powers,  and  his 
influence  was  widely  felt  in  the  County  and  the  State. 

His  countenance  was  noble,  his  person  fine,  and  his  man- 
ners and  whole  bearing  dignified  and  imposing. 


104 


He  was  a most  agreeable  and  entertaining  companion,  as 
bis  memory  was  stored  with  the  stirring  scenes  and  events  of 
a long  and  busy  life.  His  sentiments  and  opinions  were 
always  sound  and  patriotic,  and  his  interest  in  passing  events 
continued  actively  alive  till  the  hour  of  his  death. 

Though  I am  indebted  to  another  * for  most  of  the  particu- 
lars of  this  brief  sketch  of  Gen  Newhall,  his  memory,  as  a 
public  man,  is  a part  of  the  history  of  the  county  and  of  the 
Commonwealth. 

He  had  a son  and  seven  daughters.  The  son,  a young 
man  of  great  promise,  died  young.  One  of  his  daughters 
married  Dr.  Ephraim  Allen,  of  Salem,  N.  Y.,  whom  I have 
had  occasion  to  mention  in  another  part  of  this  report,  and 
another  married  the  Hon.  C.  J.  Savage,  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  New  York. 

General  Newhall  was  succeeded,  as  a trustee,  by  Eleazer 
James,  Esq. 

Col.  Thomas  Denny,  of  Leicester,  was  elected  July  7th, 
1794,  to  fill  the  place  of  the  Hon.  Seth  Washburn. 

He  was  a native  of  Leicester,  and  was  born  May  15th, 
1757. 

His  father,  Thomas  Denny,  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  active  patriots  in  Massachusetts  at  the  commencement  of 
the  revolution.  He  was  a brother  of  Colonel  Samuel  Denny, 
who  has  been  mentioned  in  an  early  part  of  this  report,  the 
sons  of  Daniel  Denny,  who.  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Leicester,  and  whose  sister  married  the  historian  and  annalist. 
Dr.  Prince. 

The  father  of  Colonel  Thomas  Denny  died  at  the  early  age 
of  forty-nine,  in  1774,  while  a member  of  the  first  Provincial 
Congress. 

Colonel  Denny,  early  in  life,  engaged  in  active  business 
with  great  energy  and  success,  and  soon  became  a prominent 
and  leading  citizen  of  the  town. 

Upon  the  resignation  of  Colonel  Crafts,  in  1791,  of  his 


* George  Davis,  Esq. 


105 


command  of  the  regiment  of  cavalry  which  he  had  raised  in 
the  county.  Colonel  Denny  was  elected  its  lieutenant-colonel, 
then  a place  of  great  honor  and  respect. 

He  was,  the  same  year,  elected  a representative  of  Leicester 
in  the  General  Court,  and  frequently  afterwards  represented 
that  town. 

He  was  extensively  engaged,  for  many  years,  in  mercantile 
and  manufacturing  business,  and,  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
was  the  wealthiest  man  in  town. 

As  a resident  trustee  of  the  academy,  he  was  a most  useful 
and  efficient  member  of  the  board.  His  services  were  always 
in  demand  whenever  practical  business  talents  and  experience, 
and  sound  common  sense,  combined  with  energy  of  character, 
were  required.  And  no  one  was  more  faithful  than  he  in  the 
performance  of  his  duties  to  the  institution. 

He  died  very  suddenly,  December  5th,  1814,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-seven,  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  and  to  the  uni- 
versal regret  of  all  who  knew  him. 

One  of  his  sons,  of  the  same  name,  was  afterwards  preceptor 
of  the  English  department  of  the  academy,  and  is  now  one  of 
its  trustees.  One  of  his  daughters  is  the  wife  of  its  most 
distinguished  benefactor,  and,  at  one  time,  one  of  its  trustees, 
James  Smith,  Esq. 

Colonel  Denny  was  succeeded,  at  his  death,  in  the  board 
of  trustees,  by  Hon.  Nathaniel  P.  Denny. 

Lev.  Nathan  Fiske,  D.  D.,  was  elected  to  the  place  made 
vacant  by  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Campbell,  July  9th,  1795. 
He  was  then  minister  of  Brookfield.  He  was  born  in  Weston, 
November  24th,  1733,  and  was  graduated  at  Cambridge,  in 
1754,  in  the  same  class  with  Gov.  Hancock.  In  1758,  he 
was  ordained  over  the  third  precinct  of  Brookfield.  Here  he 
remained  until  his  death,  November  24th,  1799.  His  death 
was  very  sudden,  having  preached  twice  on  that  day,  and 
walked  from  his  house  to  the  church  in  apparently  good 
health. 

He  was  a fine  scholar,  and  an  interesting  and  impressive 


106 


preacher.  He  was  distinguished,  as  a writer,  for  the  neat- 
ness and  correctness  of  his  style. 

His  cotemporaries  speak  of  him  in  terms  of  great  respect 
and  esteem  on  account  of  his  fine  domestic  and  social  qualities, 
and  the  dignity,  faithfulness,  and  conscientiousness  with  which 
he  performed  all  the  duties  of  life. 

His  connection  with  the  academy  was  brief,  but  the  estima- 
tion in  which  he  was  held,  by  his  associates,  may  be  inferred, 
from  his  being  elected  to  succeed  Rev.  Mr.  Conklin,  as  vice 
president  of  the  board,  in  July,  1798.  He  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  D.  D.,  from  his  Alma  Mater,  in  1792, 
when  such  a mark  of  distinction  was  more  regarded  than  it 
has  sometimes  since  been. 

The  Rev.  Ephraim  Ward  was  Dr.  Fiske’s  successor  in  the 
board  of  trustees. 

Eleazer  James,  Esq.,  of  Barre,  took  the  place  of  Gen. 
Newhall,  July,  1797. 

He  was  born  at  Cohasset,  1754,  and  was  graduated  at 
Cambridge,  in  1778. 

From  1781  to  1789,  he  was  a tutor  in  that  college.  After 
that,  he  preached  for  a while,  but  was  never  settled  over  any 
parish. 

He  then  gave  up  the  profession  of  divinity,  and  studied 
that  of  law.  Having  been  admitted  to  practice,  he  opened 
an  office  in  Barre,  where,  for  many  years,  he  pursued  his 
profession  with  great  success.  Towards  the  close  of  his  life, 
his  daughter  having  married  the  Hon.  Charles  Allen,  he 
removed  to  Worcester,  to  reside  with  them,  and  remained 
there  till  his  death,  April  14th,  1843,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
nine. 

Although  never  distinguished  as  an  advocate,  and  rarely,  if 
ever,  taking  a leading  part  in  the  management  of  important 
causes,  he  was  regarded  as  a good  lawyer,  a discreet  coun- 
sellor, and  an  agreeable  and  intelligent  gentleman. 

In  some  respects,  his  history  and  experience  were  peculiar, 
compared  with  most  of  his  associates  at  the  bar,  for  he 


107 


acquired  a handsome  estate  by  his  profession,  and  died  in  a 
condition  of  pecuniary  independence. 

He  remained,  for  seventeen  years,  a member  of  the  board 
of  trustees,  and  lent  the  institution  the  benefit  of  his  counsels 
and  his  personal  influence.  He  resigned  his  place  in  1814, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Samuel  M.  Burnside,  Esq. 

He  left  three  daughters,  one  of  whom  married  Bev.  Dr. 
Young,  late  of  Boston ; another,  Bev.  Dr.  Thompson,  of 
Salem,  who  received  his  early  education  at  the  academy ; and 
the  other,  Hon.  Mr.  Allen,  as  already  mentioned. 

Through  a long,  quiet,  and  unobtrusive  life,  he  commanded 
the  respect  of  the  public,  and  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  a wide 
circle  of  friends  ; and  if  his  name  does  not  appear  among  the 
men  in  public  political  life,  in  his  day,  it  was  because  his 
taste  and  inclination  were  averse  to  entering  such  arena. 

Elijah  Brigham  was  a native  of  Northboro’,  and  was 
graduated  at  Dartmouth,  in  1778.  Upon  leaving  college 
he  commenced  the  study  of  divinity ; but,  after  two  years, 
abandoned  it,  and  entered  into  mercantile  business,  in  West- 
boro’,  in  connection  with  his  brother-in-law,  Breck  Parkman, 
Esq. 

He  represented  that  town  in  the  General  Court,  in  1791, 
and,  in  1795,  was  elected  a Senator  for  the  County  of  Wor- 
cester, and  held  the  office  two  years. 

In  1795,  he  was  appointed  a Judge  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas.  In  1803,  he  was  a member  of  the  Executive 
Council,  and  in  1810,  was  elected  to  Congress.  He  con- 
tinued a member  of  that  body  until  his  death,  in  1816,  April 
22d.  This  took  place  at  Washington,  while  in  attendance 
upon  Congress,  at  which  time  he  was  sixty-five  years  of  age. 
His  death  was  very  sudden,  having  been  occasioned  by  an 
attack  of  croup. 

It  is  hardly  necessary,  after  reciting  the  various  high  and 
responsible  offices  which  Judge  Brigham  was  called  to  fill,  to 
add,  that  he  was  a man  of  strong  native  powers  of  mind, 
and  of  high  personal  character. 


108 


He  held  a seat  upon  the  bench  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  at  a period  when  legal  learning  was  not  regarded  as  an 
essential  requisite  for  the  office. 

Engaged  as  he  was,  during  all  this  time,  in  extensive 
mercantile  operations,  he  must,  in  his  judicial  capacity,  have 
depended  rather  upon  his  sound  judgment  and  good  sense, 
than  upon  any  knowledge  which  he  had  gathered  from  the 
books. 

He  proved  himself  to  be  such  a man  as  the  circumstances 
of  the  time  demanded ; and  the  uniform  respect  with  which  he 
was  regarded  in  the  public  mind,  was  evidence  that  his  claims 
upon  the  confidence  of  the  community  were  properly  appre- 
ciated. 

He  was  chosen  to  fill  the  place  of  Judge  Baker  at  the 
hoard  of  trustees,  July,  1T9T,  and  was  succeeded  by  Hon. 
Levi  Lincoln,  Jr.,  having  held  the  office  till  his  death. 

Rev.  Zephaniah  Swift  Moore,  D.  D.,  was  elected  to 
fill  the  vacancy  at  the  board,  occasioned  by  the  decease  of  Mr. 
Conklin,  July,  1798. 

He  was  born  in  Palmer,  Mass.,  and  in  early  life  removed 
with  his  father  to  Wilmington,  Vt.,  where  he  grew  up, 
laboring  upon  his  father’s  farm,  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age.  He  entered  Dartmouth  College,  and  was  graduated  in 
1793.  He  was  then  employed  for  a year  in  teaching  the 
academy  at  Londonderry,  N.  H. 

After  that,  he  studied  theology  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Backus, 
of  Somers,  Conn.,  and,  on  January  10,  1798,  was  settled 
over  the  church  and  society  of  Leicester. 

He  continued  in  this  relation  till  1811,  when  he  was 
appointed  to  the  professorship  of  languages  in  Dartmouth 
College,  and  removed  to  Hanover. 

Lie  filled  this  office  with  great  ability  and  acceptance,  till 
1815,  when  he  was  elected  President  of  Williams  College, 
and  removed  to  Williamstown. 

In  1821,  he  was  elected  President  of  Amherst  Collegiate 
Institute,  afterwards  Amherst  College,  and  removed  to 


109 


Amherst,  where  he  resided  till  his  death,  June  29th,  1823,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-three  years. 

The  character  of  Dr.  Moore  has  become  so  well  known, 
from  the  prominent  position  he  held,  and  the  ability  and  success 
with  which  he  performed  the  duties  of  these  offices,  that  it  . is 
only  necessary  to  speak  of  him  in  connection  with  this  and 
other  literary  institutions. 

He  remained  one  of  the  trustees  till  his  removal  to  Hano- 
ver, and  the  institution  has  great  cause  to  remember  his  ser- 
vices in  its  behalf,  with  gratitude  and  respect. 

Upon  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Adams  as  preceptor  of  the 
academy,  in  1806,  Dr.  Moore  was  appointed  his  successor, 
and  held  the  place  for  one  year.  He  did  not,  however,  sus- 
pend his  connection  with  the  parish  during  this  period. 

In  the  government  and  management  of  a body  of  pupils, 
whether  in  an  academy  or  college.  Dr.  Moore  had  few  equals, 
and  no  superior.  He  combined,  to  a remarkable  degree, 
with  mild,  winning  and  persuasive  address,  the  most  unwaver- 
ing firmness,  and  consistency  of  character  and  purpose. 

He  was,  moreover,  extremely  sagacious  in  the  knowledge 
of  personal  character. 

He  was  an  accurate  scholar,  a clear  and  profound  thinker, 
and  a writer  of  great  neatness  and  purity  of  style. 

As  a pastor  and  minister,  few  exerted  a more  marked 
influence,  or  left  a stronger  feeling  of  veneration  and  attach- 
ment on  the  part  of  the  people  with  whom  he  was  connected. 

He  married  a daughter  of  the  late  Thomas  Drury,  Esq.,  of 
Auburn,  who  still  survives,  retaining  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  her  former  associates  and  friends,  as  well  as  commanding 
that  of  the  community  in  which  she  has  made  her  home. 

Rev.  Ephraim  Ward  was  of  Brookfield,  (now  West 
Brookfield,)  and  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  hoard, 
in  place  of  D.  Fiske,  in  1800,  and  remained  a member  of  it 
till  1815,  when  he  resigned  the  place. 

He  was  a native  of  Newton,  and  was  born  in  1741,  and 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  University,  in  1763. 


110 


He  was  settled,  as  pastor,  over  the  church  and  society  in 
the  then  First  Parish  in  Brookfield,  October  22d,  1771,  and 
remained  in  that  relation,  till  his  death,  February  9th,  1818, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-seven. 

During  this  unusual  period  of  ministerial  life,  he  faithfully 
and  acceptably  performed  the  duties  of  his  office,  without  any 
assistant,  until  about  eighteen  months  before  his  death,  when 
the  Bev.  Mr.  Phelps  became  his  colleague. 

He  has  left  the  reputation  of  having  been  a plain,  practical, 
and  evangelical  preacher  of  the  Gospel. 

“ In  private  and  social  life,  his  amiable  and  obliging  temper,  bis  benevo- 
lent and  social  feelings,  courteous  manners,  and  catholic  spirit,  united  with  a 
remarkable  degree  of  forbearance,  meekness,  and  candor,  rendered  him  an 
agreeable  companion  and  friend,  and  endeared  him  to  a numerous  acquaint- 
ance.” * 

He  left  several  printed  sermons,  which  had  been  delivered 
on  special  occasions. 

His  name  and  his  amiable  virtues  are  still  fresh  in  the 
memory  of  the  people  to  whom  he  so  long  ministered  in  his 
holy  calling. 

He  was  succeeded  in  the  board  of  trustees  by  Bev.  Dr. 
Thayer. 

Bev.  Aaron  Bancroft,  D.  D.  The  life  of  this  long- 
tried  and  faithful  friend  of  the  institution,  remains  to  be 
written. 

It  has  been  hoped  that  some  one  would  do  justice,  as  his 
biographer,  to  his  claims  upon  the  public  respect. 

The  most  I can  hope  to  do,  is  to  borrow  from  Mr.  Lincoln’s 
History  of  Worcester,  to  which  I have  been  greatly  indebted, 
in  preparing  this  work,  for  an  outline  of  some  of  the  principal 
events  in  his  life. 

He  was  born  in  Beading,  November  10th,  1755.  He 
resolved  to  obtain  an  education,  and,  under  circumstances  of 
great  embarrassment  and  discouragement,  was  able  to  enter 
Harvard  College  in  1774. 


Massachusetts  Spy,  February  ISth,  1818. 


Ill 


The  events  of  the  revolution  following  so  soon  after,  he, 
with  the  other  students,  were  obliged  to  abandon  the  college 
for  a while.  But,  in  1778,  he  received  his  degree,  and,  soon 
after,  commenced  the  study  of  theology,  in  his  native  town. 

After  spending  three  years  in  Nova  Scotia,  he  was  invited 
to  Worcester,  in  1783,  to  supply  the  pulpit  of  the  Bev.  Mr. 
Maccarty,  during  his  illness.  From  that  time,  till  his  return 
to  Worcester,  in  1784  or  585,  he  was  employed  in  several 
different  places.  But,  having  been  invited  to  settle  over  the 
Second  Parish,  in  that  town,  he  accepted  the  invitation,  and 
became  their  pastor,  in  February,  1786. 

The  connection,  thus  formed,  ended  only  with  his  life. 
For  the  last  few  years  of  his  ministerial  labors,  he  found  an 
able  and  acceptable  assistant  in  the  colleague  with  whom  his 
duties  were  divided. 

Besides  his  devotion  to  his  parochial  duties.  Dr.  Bancroft 
became  a successful  and  popular  author.  His  Life  of  Wash- 
ington was  a popular  and  widely-circulated  work. 

Many  of  his  sermons  and  writings  upon  theological  subjects 
were  published  and  extensively  read.  And  a sermon,  which 
he  preached  at  the  close  of  the  fiftieth  year  of  his  ministry, 
was  printed,  at  the  particular  desire  of  his  people,  and  contains 
many  valuable  and  interesting  reminiscences. 

Dr.  Bancroft  was  connected  with  many  public  benevolent, 
literary,  and  scientific  associations  ; and,  in  1810,  was  honored, 
by  his  Alma  Mater~with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

His  connection  with  the  academy  was  long,  and  useful  to 
the  institution.  He  succeeded  the  Bev.  Mr.  Paine,  as  a 
trustee,  in  1800;  and,  in  1818,  became  the  president  of  the 
board,  upon  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Sumner. 

In  tracing  the  history  of  the  institution,  I have  already 
been  led  to  mention  the  part  he  took,  on  more  than  one 
occasion,  in  its  public  exercises.  His  address,  at  the  opening 
of  the  new  academy,  in  1806,  was  published,  and  received 
with  much  favor. 

He  retired  from  the  institution  in  1831,  and  was  succeeded 


112 


by  the  Rev.  George  Allen.  On  this  occasion,  the  trustees 
adopted  resolutions,  which  were  entered  upon  their  records, 
expressive  of  their  high  sense  of  his  character,  and  his  long 
and  faithful  services  in  the  cause  of  the  academy. 

He  survived  till  1839,  when,  at  the  age  of  fourscore  and 
four  years,  he  closed  a life  of  eminent  industry  and  distin- 
guished usefulness,  having  outlived  whatever  feeling  of  ani- 
mosity or  unkindness  may  have  grown  out  of  the  separation 
of  an  old  religious  society,  and  the  sundering  of  ties  that  such 
an  event  too  often  occasions. 

Hon.  "William  Stedman,  of  Lancaster,  succeeded  the  Hon. 
Moses  Gill,  July  3d,  1800. 

He  was  a graduate  of  Harvard  College,  in  1784,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  county  of  Essex,  in  1787. 

In  1802,  he  represented  Lancaster  in  the  General  Court, 
and,  in  the  following  year,  was  elected  to  Congress,  and  held 
a seat  in  that  body  till  1810,  when  he  was  appointed  Clerk 
of  the  Courts  in  the  County  of  Worcester,  and  resigned  his 
seat  in  Congress. 

Upon  receiving  this  appointment,  he  removed  to  Worces- 
ter. But  a political  revolution  in  the  State  threw  him  out 
of  office  the  following  year.  In  1812,  however,  he  again 
received  the  appointment,  which  he  was  obliged  to  resign  in 
1816,  and,  about  the  same  time,  gave  up  his  connection  with 
the  trust  of  Leicester  Academy,  in  consequence  of  a vote  of 
the  trustees,  which  they  saw  fit  afterwards  partially  to  oblit- 
erate. 

He  thereupon  returned  to  Lancaster,  and  resumed  his 
profession,  in  which  he  occasionally  engaged,  and  remained 
connected  with  the  bar  till  a short  time  previous  to  his  death, 
when  he  removed  to  Newburyport.  He  died  there,  Septem- 
ber, 1831,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six. 

His  place,  at  the  board  of  trustees,  was  filled  by  the  Hon. 
Bezaleel  Taft,  Jr.,  Mr.  Adams,  who  was  first  elected,  having 
declined  the  place. 

Hon.  Nathaniel  Paine  was  elected  a trustee  in  place  of 
the  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln,  Senior,  in  July,  1802. 


113 


He  was  a native  of  Worcester,  and  resided  there  most  of 
liis  life.  His  father,  Timothy  Paine,  Esq.,  I have  had  occa- 
sion to  mention,  among  the  early  benefactors  of  the  academy. 

He  was  graduated  at  Harvard,  in  1TT5,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1781. 

At  first,  he  commenced  practice  in  Groton,  but,  after  a few 
years,  returned  to  Worcester.  Here  he  held,  for  some  time, 
the  office  of  County  Attorney,  the  prosecuting  office  for  the 
county  of  Worcester. 

He  was,  several  times,  a representative  in  the  General 
Court  from  the  town  of  Worcester,  and,  in  1801,  succeeded 
Judge  Dorr,  as  Judge  of  Probate. 

He  held  this  honorable  and  responsible  office  for  thirty-five 
years. 

He  resigned  his  place  at  the  board  of  trustees,  in  1812,  and 
was  succeeded  by  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Heywood. 

He  died,  October  7th,  1840,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 

With  some  peculiarities  of  temperament.  Judge  Paine  was 
an  estimable  friend,  and  an  upright  and  excellent  citizen. 

Forming,  as  he  did,  one  of  the  few  connecting  links  then 
existing  between  the  ante-revolutionarv  generation,  and  one 
which  had  come  upon  the  stage,  and  was  itself  passing  away 
during  his  long  life,  his  reminiscences  of  public  men  who  had, 
during  that  period,  been  actors  in  the  events  that  had  ren- 
dered our  history  so  memorable,  often  gave  to  his  conversa- 
tion great  interest,  and  rendered  him  an  agreeable,  as  well  as 
an  instructive  companion.  He  held,  at  one  time,  a prominent 
place  at  the  bar,  but,  in  the  enjoyment  of  an  independent 
competence,  he  had  withdrawn  from  practice  many  years 
before  his  death. 

Hon.  Benjamin  Heywood  was  elected  a trustee,  in  the 
place  of  Judge  Paine,  in  November,  1812.  He  was  a native 
of  Shrewsbury,  and,  in  early  life,  worked  at  the  trade  of  a 
housewright.  Having,  however,  a strong  desire  to  obtain  an 
education,  he  prepared  to  enter  college,  and  became  a member 
of  Harvard  University,  in  1771.  The  classes,  however,  were 


114 


dispersed,  by  tbe  coming  on  of  the  revolution,  before  the 
time  of  his  graduation.  He  received  his  degree  in  regular 
course,  although  he  was  commissioned  as  a lieutenant  in  the 
provincial  service  in  May,  177j5,  and  the  next  year  received  a 
commission  in  the  continental  service,  as  captain,  which  rank 
he  retained  through  the  war,  although  much  of  the  time  he 
performed  the  arduous  and  responsible  duties  of  paymaster  in 
the  army. 

He  soon  acquired  a distinguished  reputation  as  an  officer, 
for  prudence,  firmness,  and  a familiarity  with  the  details  of 
business,  and  was  often  entrusted  with  delicate  and  important 
commissions,  in  connection  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  in  the 
army. 

After  the  peace,  he  returned  to  Worcester,  and  devoted 
himself  to  agricultural  pursuits. 

Such,  however,  was  his  capacity  for  business,  and  so  strong 
was  his  hold  upon  public  confidence,  that  he  was  soon  called 
to  more  public  duties,  as  well  as  the  execution  of  private 
trusts. 

In  1802,  he  was  appointed  a Judge  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas,  and  held  the  office  till  1811.  Besides  this,  he 
was  twice  chosen  an  Elector  of  President  of  the  United  States, 
and  held  many  other  places  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  county. 

He  died  in  1816,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years,  “leaving 
the  reputation  of  unstained  integrity  and  extensive  useful- 
ness.”* 

He  was  succeeded  at  the  board  of  trustees  by  the  Hon. 
Daniel  Waldo. 

Hon.  Aaron  Tufts  succeeded  Jonas  Howe,  Esq.,  in 
August,  1813.  He  was  a native  of  Charlestown,  but  for 
most  of  his  life  resided  in  Dudley,  where  he  at  first  studied 
medicine,  with  Dr.  Eaton  of  that  town,  and  practised  in  that 
profession  for  a few  years ; but  afterwards  became  extensively 
engaged  in  manufactures,  and  acquired  a handsome  fortune. 
And  there,  in  possession  of  a beautiful  estate,  he  maintained  a 


* Lincoln's  Distory  of  Worcester. 


115 


generous  hospitality,  and  gathered  around  him  the  essentials 
of  a pleasant  home. 

Few  men,  in  his  day,  exerted  a more  commanding  influence 
in  the  county.  Though  not  what  is  called  a man  of  “ liberal 
education,”  his  strong,  good  sense,  his  great  sagacity  and  broad 
experience,  rendered  such  an  education  the  less  necessary,  and 
more  than  supplied  it,  in  the  practical  business  of  life,  both 
public  and  private. 

He  often  represented  the  town  of  Dudley  in  the  General 
Court,  and  from  1819  till  1825,  was  a member  of  the  Senate 
from  this  county. 

In  1819,  he  was  appointed  a “Sessions  Justice”  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  as  then  constituted,  and,  when  that 
court  was  newly  organized,  in  the  same  year,  he  was  appointed, 
by  the  Governor  and  Council,  a Justice  of  the  Court  of  Ses- 
sions. 

Those  who  recall  the  long  and  difficult  struggle,  by  which 
anything  like  a protective  tariff*  was  obtained  from  Congress, 
will  remember  how  important  it  was  deemed,  that  the  wisest, 
most  discreet  and  experienced  friends  of  American  industry, 
should  be  employed  to  present  their  views  before  the  commit- 
tees of  Congress. 

Of  the  men  selected  for  this  purpose,  was  the  subject  of 
this  notice  ; and  no  one,  who  knew  him,  doubted  of  the  wis- 
dom of  the  selection. 

By  the  opportunities  thus  offered.  Dr.  Tufts  became  widely 
and  very  favorably  known  in  the  country. 

In  addition  to  this,  there  was,  with  all  his  energy  and 
decision  of  character,  an  urbanity  of  manner  at  once  dignified 
and  refined,  which  rendered  him  an  agreeable  companion  in 
social  life,  and  won  the  confidence  of  those  around  him. 

The  evening  of  his  days  was  saddened  by  the  death  of  an 
only  son,  in  whom  his  hopes  had  justly  centred.  He  was 
educated -at  this  academy,  was  graduated  at  Cambridge,  in 
1818,  had  obtained  a commanding  position  at  the  bar,  and 


116 


had  been  a member  of  the  Senate  for  the  county,  when  he 
wras  stricken  down  by  disease,  and  died  universally  lamented. 

Dr.  Tufts  survived  till  September  17th,  1843,  when  an 
honorable  and  useful  career  was  closed,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three  years. 

He  was,  for  twenty  years,  a member  of  this  board  of  trust, 
and  proved  himself  a useful  and  efficient  friend  of  the  insti- 
tution. Upon  his  resigning,  he  was  succeeded  by  James 
Smith,  Esq.,  of  whose  munificent  contribution  to  the  funds 
of  the  institution,  I have  already  spoken. 

Samuel  M.  Burnside,  Esq.,  w^as  elected  to  the  board 
August,  1814,  as  successor  to  Mr.  James,  and  upon  the 
resignation  of  the  Bev.  Mr.  Stone,  became  vice  president  of 
the  board. 

He  remained  a member  of  this  body  till  his  death,  perform- 
ing, with  great  diligence  and  punctuality,  whatever  duties 
were  required  of  him  in  the  office.  His  knowledge  of  the 
classics  and  his  critical  taste,  fitted  him  peculiarly  for  the  place. 
And  in  bringing  these  into  exercise,  he  found  pleasure  com- 
bined with  duty,  to  no  small  degree. 

Mr.  Burnside  was  born  in  Northumberland,  N.  H.,  and 
was  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College,  in  1805.  After  this,  he 
was  employed  two  years  as  a teacher  in  the  academy  at 
Andover,  and  the  scholastic  habits  and  tastes  which  he  there 
cultivated,  he  retained  through  life. 

He  studied  law  with  the  late  Chief  Justice  Ward,  of 
Boston,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1810. 

He  commenced  business  in  Westboro’,  but  soon  removed 
to  Worcester,  wThere  he  ever  afterwards  resided. 

He  always  took  a great  interest  in  schools  and  the  cause  of 
education  generally,  and  to  his  exertion,  while  a member  of 
the  legislature,  the  public  w^ere  indebted  for  reducing  our 
school  laws  to  something  like  a system,  in  a bill  which  he 
drafted  and  carried  through  the  legislature. 

He  was  a learned  lawyer,  and  at  one  time  commanded  an 
extensive  business  in  his  profession. 


117 


For  several  years,  however,  before  his  death,  his  circum- 
stances were  such  as  to  render  devotion  to  any  profession 
unnecessary,  and  he  had  chiefly  withdrawn  from  practice. 

He  married  a daughter  of  the  Hon.  Dwight  Foster,  and, 
consequently,  a sister  of  the  Hon.  Alfred  D.  Foster,  and  thus 
added  one  more  to  a family  to  which  Leicester  Academy  has 
been  greatly  indebted  for  the  good  management  of  her 
interests. 

He  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven,  in  the  year  1850. 
Happy  in  his  family,  and  independent  in  his  circumstances, 
he  was  enabled  to  indulge  his  tastes  in  literary  studies  and 
profound  speculations,  which  embraced  the  subject  of  theology, 
for  which  he  had  a great  fondness. 

After  so  long  and  so  useful  a connection  with  this  institu- 
tion, his  loss  could  not  fail  to  be  sensibly  felt ; and  the 
trustees,  by  appropriate  resolutions,  acknowledged  the  debt  of 
gratitude  which  was  due  to  his  services,  and  their  sorrow  for 
his  loss. 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Thayer,  D.  D.,  belonged  to  Lancaster, 
and  was  chosen  to  succeed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ward. 

He  was  born  at  Hampton,  N.  H.,  in  1769,  and  was  grad- 
uated at  Cambridge,  in  1789.  From  1792  to  1793,  he  was 
a tutor  in  Harvard  College.  Upon  the  termination  of  his 
connection  with  the  college,  he  was  employed  to  preach  at 
Lancaster,  and  in  the  same  year  was  ordained  over  the  church 
and  society  in  that  tpwn.  He  retained  this  connection  until 
his  death. 

He  is  described,  by  those  who  knew  him  well,  as  possessing 
highly  respectable  and  well-disciplined  intellectual  powers. 

“Clearness  of  thought  gave  clearness  of  expression.  “His  discourses 
were  calm,  plain,  practical,  and  solid : not  the  issues  of  a fertile  imagination, 
to  which  he  laid  no  claim.”  “A  clear  and  distinct  enunciation,  with  great 
gravity  and  solemnity  in  the  conduct  of  the  service,  gave  power  to  the 
devotional  spirit,  and  additional  weight  and  authority  to  the  spoken  word.”  * 

* Willard’s  Lancaster  Address. 

8 


118 


Among  the  ministers  of  the  Unitarian  denomination  he  was 
held  in  high  esteem,  as  a divine.  And  he  was  justly  popular 
with  all,  from  his  dignity  of  manner,  courteous  bearing,  and 
the  kindly  feelings  which  distinguish  the  gentleman,  in  his 
intercourse  with  others. 

He  was  often  called  upon  for  occasional  discourses,  more 
than  twenty  of  which  were  published. 

He  remained  a member  of  the  board,  till  1826,  when  he 
resigned  the  place,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bardwell. 

Dr.  Thayer  died  very  suddenly,  on  the  23d  of  June,  1841, 
at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  he  had  arrived  a few  hours 
previous,  on  a journey,  in  apparently  good  health,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-one  years. 

He  was  honored  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity,  in 
the  year  18 IT. 

Rev.  Micah  Stone  was  born  in  Reading,  in  1770 ; was 
graduated  at  Cambridge,  in  1790;  and,  for  one  year,  was 
tutor  in  that  university.  In  1801,  he  was  settled  over  the 
church  and  society  in  South  Brookfield. 

He  was  the  son  of  a clergyman,  and  was  obliged  to  struggle 
with  embarrassments  in  obtaining  an  education,  from  the 
limited  means  of  his  father  to  aid  him.  But,  in  so  doing,  he 
developed  the  strong  and  vigorous  traits  of  character  which 
distinguished  him,  even  in  the  somewhat  circumscribed 
sphere  in  which  he  moved. 

His  last  sermon  was  delivered  at  the  age  of  eighty,  on  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  ordination,  and  gave  pleasing  but 
unmistakable  evidence  that  age  had  done  little  to  impair  an 
intellect  originally  strong  and  well-balanced. 

To  borrow  the  language  of  another  : 

“ Few,  indeed,  after  so  long  and  responsible  a life  as  his,  will  be  able  to 
look  back  upon  it  with  so  little  to  regret;  of  duties  unfulfilled,  or  with  so 
much  satisfaction  of  having  ever,  even  under  the  most  trying  circumstances, 
endeavored  to  do  bis  duty.” 


119 


He  is  represented, — and  those  who  knew  him  will  recognize 
the  description  as  true, — as  having  been  uniform  in  the  kindness 
and  warmth  of  his  disposition,  upright,  honest,  and  open  in 
his  dealings,  an  affectionate  kinsman,  neighbor,  and  friend. 

He  died  without  children,  September  20th,  1853,  aged 
eighty-three. 

He  was  elected  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  in 
August,  1815,  in  place  of  Rev.  Mr.  Grosvenor,  and  proved  to 
be  a faithful,  efficient  officer.  In  May,  1831,  he  succeeded 
Gov.  Lincoln,  as  vice-president  of  the  board,  and  resigned  the 
trust,  in  1836,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bardwell, 
elected  a second  time  to  the  board. 

Dr.  Austin  Flint  was  of  Leicester,  and  was  elected  to 
fill  the  place  of  Thomas  Newhall,  Esq. 

He  was  born  in  Shrewsbury,  January  4th,  1760,  and  was 
the  son  of  Dr.  Edward  Flint,  of  that  town. 

Both  father  and  son  were  not  only  surgeons  and  physicians, 
but  as  eminent,  as  patriots,  as  they  were  in  their  professions. 
Both,  at  times,  were  engaged  in  the  revolutionary  war,  as 
surgeons  in  the  army ; and,  among  other  periods  of  service,  I 
find  the  name  of  the  son  on  the  roll  of  Colonel  Drury’s  regi- 
ment, at  West  Point,  in  1781,  at  which  time  he  was  only 
twenty-one  years  of  age. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  he  settled  in  Leicester,  and 
married  the  daughter  of  Colonel  William  Henshaw,  a distin- 
guished officer  in  the  revolution. 

He  was,  for  many  years,  the  only  physician  in  the  town  of 
Leicester,  and  deservedly  held  a high  rank  in  his  profession. 

He  was  a man  of  great  energy  of  character,  and,  so  long  as 
he  continued  in  active  life,  exercised  a commanding  influence 
in  that  community,  who  had  learned  to  appreciate  the  accuracy 
of  his  judgment,  the  soundness  of  his  principles,  and  the  hon- 
esty of  his  purposes. 

He  carried,  through  life,  in  the  opinions  he  entertained, 
and  the  fearlessness  with  which  he  manifested  them,  the 
results  of  that  early  training  which  he  received  during  the  agi- 


120 


tations  and  trying  scenes  of  the  revolution,  in  which  he  so 
early  took  a part. 

He  was  an  early  and  constant  friend  of  the  academy,  and 
his  contributions  to  its  funds  have  already  been  spoken  of. 

Being  a resident  in  town,  his  services  and  advice  were  often 
put  in  requisition. 

One  of  his  sons,  Joseph  H.,  who  was  educated  here,  was  an 
eminent  physician,  and  died  before  the  father. 

Another,  who  was  also  fitted  for  college  here,  was,  at  one 
time,  preceptor  of  the  English  department,  and  subsequently 
declined  an  election  to  the  board  of  trustees ; while  a third 
succeeded  the  father  in  the  business  of  his  profession,  upon  his 
retiring  from  the  practice. 

Dr.  Flint  often  represented  the  town  in  the  legislature, 
and  was,  for  many  years,  an  active  magistrate,  performing  its 
duties  with  much  ability  and  unquestionable  integrity. 

Few  men  had  stronger  claims  upon  the  regards  of  his 
friends  and  associates,  than  Dr.  Flint.  With  a good  knowl- 
edge of  men,  a large  fund  of  anecdote,  and  a cheerfulness  and 
good-humor  ever  ready  and  ever  playful,  he  was  a welcome 
visitor  at  the  bed-side  of  the  sick,  and  at  the  firesides  of  his 
friends.  No  child  passed  him  without  a kind  word  of  recog- 
nition, and  no  one  of  his  townsmen,  when  in  need  of  counsel 
or  advice,  but  sought  it  gladly  of  him. 

If  this  were  an  occasion  to  indulge  in  the  expression  of  a 
grateful  memory,  I might  venture  to  speak  more  in  detail  of 
one  who  filled  up  a life  of  ninety-one  years  with  duty  and  use- 
fulnesss  ; and  had  a right  to  indulge  the  consciousness  that 
the  world  was  better  for  his  having  lived. 

He  died  August  29th,  1850.  He  had  resigned  his  place 
as  trustee,  in  1831,  and  been  succeeded  by  the  Hon.  William 
B.  Banister. 

Bev.  Edwards  Whipple  was  successor  to  the  Bev.  Mr. 
Pope,  in  1816. 

He  was  born  in  New  Braintree,  in  1778,  and  was  gradua- 
ted at  Williams  College,  in  1801.  He  was  settled  over  the 


121 


Congregational  church  and  society  in  Charlton,  in  1804,  and 
was  dismissed  from  that  charge  in  1821.  On  the  26th  Sep- 
tember, of  the  same  year,  he  was  installed  over  the  church 
and  society  in  Shrewsbury,  as  a colleague  with  Dr.  Sumner. 
He  died  on  the  22d  September,  in  less  than  a single  year  from 
his  installation,  at  the  age  of  only  forty-four  years,  in  the  full 
vigor  of  his  intellect  and  his  manhood. 

Dr.  Nelson  preached  an  able  and  interesting  sermon  at  his 
funeral,  which  was  published,  and  paid  a just  tribute  to  his 
eminent  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  as  a gentleman  and  a 
Christian  minister. 

Mr.  Whipple  was  a universal  favorite,  kind  and  bland  in 
his  manners,  cheerful  in  his  intercourse  with  all,  an  interest- 
ing preacher,  and  a devoted  pastor.  Nature  and  grace  seemed 
to  have  united  to  fit  him  for  the  sacred  office  in  which  he 
ministered. 

His  person  was  finely  proportioned  ; his  voice  remarkably 
sweet  and  musical ; and  his  whole  bearing  and  intercourse 
were  such  as  to  win  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who 
knew  him. 

He  was  a member  of  the  board  of  trustees  at  his  death, 
and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Clark,  then  of  Prince- 
ton. 

Hon.  Daniel  Waldo  was  chosen  a trustee  in  August, 
1817,  in  place  of  Judge  Heywood. 

For  the  brief  notice  of  this  liberal  and  excellent  friend  of 
Leicester  Academy,  I am  indebted  to  a note  appended  to  a 
just  and  appropriate  discourse  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sweetzer, 
preached  on  the  occasion  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Waldo  was  born  in  Boston,  January  20th,  1763.  He 
was  the  son  of  an  eminent  merchant,  who  removed  from  that 
city,  and  came  to  Worcester  in  1782. 

He  was  educated  as  a merchant,  and  pursued  that  avoca- 
tion for  many  years,  with  great  intelligence  and  success. 

Nor  did  he  relax  his  diligent  attention  to  his  own  affairs 
after  he  had  acquired  an  entire  independence,  although  he 


had,  for  many  years  before  his  death,  ceased  to  be  engaged  in 
mercantile  transactions. 

He  was  a member  of  the  Senate  from  the  year  1816  to 
1819.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Worcester  County 
Agricultural  Society,  and,  for  four  years,  was  president  of  the 
society. 

He  was  a useful  and  excellent  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  Leicester  Academy,  and  evinced  his  continued 
interest  in  its  success  by  a liberal  legacy  bequeathed  to  the 
institution  in  his  last  will,  of  six  thousand  dollars,  which  has 
already  been  noticed. 

This  was  but  one  of  the  many  bequests,  and  some  of  them 
princely  ones,  which  Mr.  Waldo  made  at  his  decease. 

He  was  a man  of  great  purity  of  life,  systematic  in  all  his 
measures,  benevolent  in  his  feelings,  energetic  in  accomplish- 
ing whatever  he  undertook,  and  upright  in  all  his  ways. 

He  died  July  9th,  1845,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two,  with  his 
faculties  and  powers  unimpaired  by  age.  He  resigned  his 
place  as  a trustee  in  1834,  and  was  succeeded  by  Hon.  James 
Allen. 

Hon.  Bezaleel  Taft,  Jr.,  was  the  son  of  a distinguished 
gentleman  of  Uxbridge,  of  the  same  name,  who,  for  many 
years,  filled  an  important  place  in  the  affairs  of  the  county, 
having  been  successively  a representative  in  the  General 
Court,  Senator,  and  member  of  the  Executive  Council,  besides 
occupying  other  places  of  responsible  trust. 

The  son  was  born  in  Uxbridge,  and  was  graduated  at  Cam- 
bridge in  1804. 

He  studied  law,  and  settled  in  Uxbridge,  where  he  resided 
till  death,  in  1846,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six. 

Unfortunately  for  his  eminence  in  the  profession,  he  had 
no  particular  taste  for  its  pursuits,  and  he  felt  no  necessity  of 
depending  upon  its  emoluments  for  his  support. 

He  was  thus  able  to  indulge  a fondness  for  rural  life,  which 
he  enjoyed  in  the  management  of  a beautiful  farm  on  the 
banks  of  the  Blackstone. 


123 


lie  often  represented  his  native  town  in  the  legislature,  in 
1825,  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  and  was  afterwards  a mem- 
ber of  the  Executive  Council. 

When  the  State  Lunatic  Hospital  at  Worcester  was  erected, 
a commission  was  created  by  the  Governor  and  Council  to 
plan  and  superintend  its  construction,  of  which  Mr.  Taft  was 
a member. 

He  became  a trustee  of  the  academy  in  1818,*  and  resigned 
it  in  1829,  being  succeeded  in  the  office  by  George  Davis, 
Esq. 

For  many  years,  the  condition  of  Mr.  Taft’s  health  com- 
pelled him  to  withdraw  from  public  life,  though  he  continued 
to  take  a lively  interest  in  the  passing  events. 

Though  not  a scholar,  he  was  a man  of  good  general  intel- 
ligence, of  agreeable  manners,  and  fine  social  qualities. 

Agriculture  was  his  favorite  pursuit,  and  he  took  an  early  and 
lasting  interest  in  the  success  of  the  Worcester  County  Agri- 
cultural Society,  of  which  he  was  a prominent  and  active 
member. 

Iiis  life  was  rather  one  of  dignified  quiet  than  stirring  inci- 
dent, and,  in  the  enjoyment  of  personal  independence  upon 
his  own  estate,  it  could  furnish  but  few  subjects  for  an 
extended  biographical  notice. 

Rev.  Josiah  Clark  wras  born  in  Northampton,  in  1785, 
and  was  graduated  at  Williams  College  in  1809.  The  same 
year,  he  was  employed  as  English  preceptor  of  the  academy, 
and  succeeded  Mr.  Wilson  as  principal  in  March,  1812,  when, 
having  in  the  mean  time  pursued  the  study  of  theology,  he 
was  settled  as  minister  over  the  Congregational  church  and 
society  in  Rutland.  He  held  this  place  till  his  death,  in  1845, 
at  the  age  of  sixty,  on  which  occasion  the  trustees  adopted 


* Mr.  Taft  was  elected  in  place  of  Mr.  Stedman,  or,  rather,  of  Hon.  Benjamin  Adams,  of 
Uxbridge,  who  declined  election.  Mr  Adams  was  a lawyer  by  profession.  He  was  a grad- 
uate of  Brown  University  in  1788,  and,  from  1816  to  1821,  was  a member  of  Congress.  He 
was  previously  a member  of  the  State  Senate,  a gentleman  of  great  worth  and  integrity,  and 
much  respected.  He  died  March  28th,  1837,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years. 


124 


resolutions  expressive  of  their  high  sense  of  his  services  to 
the  academy,  and  his  claims  upon  their  grateful  remembrance. 

In  1819,  he  became  successor  to  Dr.  Sumner  as  a member 
of  the  trustees  of  the  academy,  and  remained  a member 
until  his  death. 

Mr.  Clark  was  a faithful  and  acceptable  teacher  and  principal 
of  the  academy.  He  was  a respectable  scholar,  devoted  to 
the  interests  of  the  school,  and  his  ready  sympathies  and 
kindly  feelings  made  him  a favorite  with  the  students.  No 
one  who  remembers  him  in  that  relation  will  hesitate  to  accord 
to  his  memory  this  tribute  of  personal  respect  and  attach- 
ment. 

The  institution  was  prosperous  under  his  management,  and 
the  interest  he  then  acquired  in  its  success,  he  retained  during 
life. 

As  a pastor,  Mr.  Clark  was  equally  faithful  and  devoted  to 
his  trust.  He  was  a good  writer,  a ready  and  fluent  speaker, 
and  a popular  preacher.  He  was  a willing  counsellor  and  a 
faithful  friend,  in  his  parish,  as  well  as  a spiritual  guide. 

He  could  not,  in  his  nature,  have  an  enemy,  and  though  he 
may  not  have  held  a rank  among  the  great  men  of  the  land,  he 
had  the  more  enviable  character  of  a good  one,  and  few  have 
gone  down  to  the  grave  with  better  assurance  of  having  ful- 
filled his  mission,  than  the  subject  of  this  notice. 

If,  in  this  brief  sketch,  the  language  may  seem  to  be  bor- 
rowed from  sentiments  of  personal  regard,  it  is  simply  because 
the  relation  of  a friend  furnished  the  best  opportunity  for 
knowing  his  characteristic  qualities,  as  a Christian  and  a man. 

His  son  was,  at  a subsequent  period,  successively  preceptor 
of  the  English  and  Latin  departments  of  the  school,  and  sus- 
tained the  reputation  of  the  father,  as  a teacher. 

Hon.  William  Bostwick  Banister,  elected  a trustee  in 
place  of  Dr.  Austin  Flint,  in  November,  1831,  was  a native 
of  Brookfield,  and  was  born  November  8th,  1773.  He  was 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  College,  in  1797. 


He  studied  law,  and  pursued  his  profession  in  Newbury  - 
port,  where  he  spent  the  greater  .part  of  his  life. 

lie  removed  to  Brookfield  about  the  time  of  his  election  to 
the  board  of  trustees  of  the  academy,  and  remained  there  a 
few  years,  after  which  he  returned  to  Newburyport,  where  he 
died  July  1st,  1853,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 

Among  his  public  duties,  he  represented  Newburyport  in 
the  legislature,  and  was,  for  some  time,  a member  of  the  Sen- 
ate from  Essex  county. 

Though  not  a brilliant  man,  he  was  a man  of  a good  deal 
of  influence  in  his  county,  and  took  a leading  part  in  the 
religious  and  benevolent  movements  of  the  day.  Among 
other  trusts  of  this  kind,  he  was  one  of  the  trustees,  and 
afterwards  of  the  visitors  of  the  theological  seminary  at  Ando- 
ver, a trustee  of  Amherst  College,  and  a trustee  of  the  Put- 
nam Free  School  in  Newburyport. 

His  connection  with  Leicester  Academy  was  too  brief  to 
have  produced  any  marked  influence  upon  its  success.  He 
resigned  his  place  at  the  board  in  May,  1833,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  lion.  A.  D.  Foster. 

For  many  years,  the  enjoyment  of  wealth  relieved  him  from 
the  necessity  of  laboring  in  his  profession.  But  his  powers 
were  not  suffered  to  lie  dormant,  and  his  interest  in  the  cause 
of  education  and  morals  gave  employment  to  time  and  ener- 
gies. 

In  this  way,  though  retired  from  the  active  scenes  of  life, 
he  was  able  to  make  his  influence  felt,  and  his  death  was  a 
public  loss. 

Hon.  Alfred  Dwight  Foster  was  the  son  of  Hon.  Dwight 
Foster,  already  mentioned  as  one  of  the  distinguished  mem- 
bers of  this  board  of  trustees. 

He  was  born  at  Brookfield,  July  26th,  1800.  He  was,  in 
part,  fitted  for  college  at  this  academy,  and,  at  the  age  of 
fifteen,  entered  Harvard  College,  and  was  graduated,  with  a 
good  reputation  for  scholarship,  in  1819. 

He  studied  law  with  Mr.  Burnside,  who,  it  has  already  been 


126 


mentioned,  had  married  his  sister,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1822. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1823,  Mr.  Foster  removed 
to  Worcester,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

He  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  for  about 
two  years  after  his  removal,  but  from  that  time  he  withdrew 
from  all  connection  with  the  bar,  and  devoted  his  life  to  liter- 
ary pursuits,  and  the  calls  of  public  duty  and  private  benevo- 
lence. He  filled  in  succession  many  of  the  municipal  offices 
of  the  town,  was  a representative  in  the  General  Court,  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Council  for  three  years,  and  a 
member  of  the  Senate  in  1848. 

Yet,  though  so  often  called  into  public  life,  it  was  without 
any  inclination  or  desire  for  office.  In  accepting  this,  he 
yielded  only  to  the  urgent  wishes  of  his  fellow-citizens,  and 
a sense  of  duty  he  felt  to  devote  his  powers  to  the  good  of 
his  fellow-men. 

He  was  a member  of  the  original  board  of  trustees  of  the 
State  Lunatic  Hospital,  and,  for  fourteen  years,  its  treasurer. 
He  was  early  engaged  in  the  enterprise  of  founding  the  School 
of  Reform  of  the  young  at  Westboro’,  and  was  the  confiden- 
tial medium  through  whom  Gen.  Lyman  communicated  his 
munificent  proposals  to  the  legislature,  which  resulted  in  the 
establishment  of  that  noble  charity. 

Mr.  Foster  was  placed  at  the  head  of  a commission  to  fix  a 
locality  for  the  school,  and  afterwards  at  the  head  of  another 
commission,  superintending  the  plan  and  erection  of  its  build- 
ings. 

He  was,  for  fourteen  years,  a trustee  of  Amherst  College, 
and  for  many  years  an  active  member  of  the  American  Board 
of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions. 

To  all  places  of  trust  and  responsibility  which  he  was  called 
to  fill,  Mr.  Foster  brought  untiring  industry  and  fidelity,  as 
well  as  great  sagacity  and  good  sense.  Modest  and  self-dis- 
trustful to  a fault,  he  unconsciously  commanded  the  confidence 


and  respect  of  all,  and  exerted  an  influence  which  is  awarded 
to  merit  alone. 

Yet  there  was  nothing  of  timidity  or  misgiving  when  duty 
called  upon  him  for  action.  At  such  times,  the  world’s  favor 
and  the  world’s  frown  were  alike  disregarded.  And  he  shrunk 
not  from  exposing,  and  often  in  terms  of  indignant  eloquence, 
vice,  sophistry,  or  falsehood,  in  whatever  quarter  they  were 
detected. 

In  private  and  domestic  life,  few  had  less  faults.  He  was 
faithful  and  sincere  as  a friend,  upright  and  honorable  in  all 
his  transactions,  and  unwavering  in  his  integrity  in  all  things. 

He  left  but  few  public  writings,  but  he  was  neat,  strong 
and  clear  in  his  style,  and,  in  whatever  he  wrote  or  uttered, 
he  was  earnest,  truthful  and  sincere. 

He  passed  through  life  without  doing  justice  to  his  own 
unconscious  powers,  but  acted  up,  in  all  things,  to  the  highest 
claim  of  conscience  and  duty  upon  his  judgment  and  under- 
standing. 

He  was  chosen  to  succeed  Mr.  Banister  as  trustee  of  the 
academy  in  1833,  and  resigned  the  place  in  1849,  and  was 
succeeded  by  the  Hon.  Judge  Kinnicutt. 

Mr.  Foster  died  August  15th,  1852. 

Rev.  Amos  Bullard  was  chosen  a trustee  in  place  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  in  May,  1846.  He  was  born  in  Medway, 
was  graduated  at  Amherst  College,  in  1833,  and  studied 
theology  at  Andover. 

In  November,  1839,  he  was  elected  assistant  preceptor,  on 
the  Waters  Fund,  and  held  the  place  till  1841. 

He  was  ordained  over  one  of  the  Congregational  societies 
in  Barre,  October  26,  1843,  and  died  August  21st,  1850, 
aged  forty-three. 

He  was  succeeded,  as  trustee,  by  Rev.  Andrew  C.  Dennison, 
of  Leicester. 

Mr.  Bullard  was  a fine  classical  scholar,  and  a writer  of 
great  beauty,  and  greatly  excelled  in  metaphysics. 

His  early  death  was  deeply  felt  by  his  people,  and  mourned 


128 


as  a loss  by  the  institution.  Having  been  an  instructor,  he 
knew  its  wants,  and  felt  interested  in  its  success.  His  widow, 
after  his  death,  became,  and  still  is,  the  female  assistant 
teacher  in  the  academy. 

John  Sargent,  Esq.,  was  born,  and  lived,  most  of  his 
life,  in  Leicester. 

For  several  years  before  his  death,  he  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  business,  and  was  postmaster  of  Leicester.  He 
held  the  office  of  town  clerk,  and  other  places  of  trust,  in  the 
town. 

He  succeeded  the  Hon.  N.  P.  Denny,  as  trustee,  August 
10th,  1846,  and  proved  to  be  a faithful  and  useful  member  of 
the  board. 

Mr.  Sargent  died  February  13th,  1850,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
three,  in  the  midst  of  a life  of  usefulness,  leaving  the  character 
of  an  excellent  citizen  and  good  man,  if  it  had  not  been  his 
mission  to  achieve  a name  beyond  the  circle  in  which  he  was 
personally  known  and  respected. 

He  was  succeeded  by  H.  A.  Denny,  Esq.,  in  the  board  of 
trustees.  He  had  been  a pupil  at  the  academy,  in  his  earlier 
days,  and,  in  1821,  was  employed,  for  a while,  as  an  assistant 
teacher  in  the  English  department. 

This  completes  our  brief  notices  of  the  men,  to  whom,  in 
part,  the  interests  of  this  institution  have  been  committed. 

It  would  have  given  the  writer  of  this,  unfeigned  pleasure 
to  have  spoken,  as  he  wished,  of  others  whose  names  are 
borne  upon  the  lists  of  its  trustees.  But  delicacy  to  the 
living  hardly  admits  of  this  being  done.  And  he  leaves  to 
others  to  do  justice  to  these  names  when  they  shall  be  added 
to  that  honorable  and  honored  roll,  whose  influence  still  lives, 
and  whose  memory  ought  to  be  dear  to  every  friend  of 
literature,  religion,  and  humanity,  in  the  Commonwealth. 

Long  may  it  be  before  another  shall  be  called  upon  to 
complete  a work  which  has  been  thus  imperfectly  begun. 

And  yet  it  cannot  be  concealed  that,  to  several  of  these,  has 


129 


already  been  accorded  a length  of  years,  and  a generous  share 
of  life’s  duties,  and  the  world’s  honors. 

For  the  term  of  forty-three  years,  has  the  venerable  presi- 
dent devoted  his  best  energies  to  the  success  of  the  institution, 
and  others  yet  remain,  whose  official  connection  with  the 
institution  began  nearly  as  early  as  his.  Surely  may  it  be 
said,  if  the  academy  has  not  been  all  that  was  desired,  it  has 
not  been  from  any  want  of  interest,  zeal,  or  effort,  on  the  part 
of  its  trustees. 


130 


CHAPTER  Y. 

PERSONAL  NOTICES  OF  THE  PRECEPTORS  AND  TEACHERS  OF 
THE  ACADEMY. 

The  following  is  believed  to  be  a correct  list  of  those,  in 
the  order  in  which  they  were  employed  : 


PRINCIPAL  PRECEPTORS. 


Benjamin  Stone, 

from  June,  1784, 

to  Oct. 

1787 

Amos  Crosby,  . 

66 

Oct.  1787, 

“ July, 

1788 

Samuel  Sumner, 

u 

Oct.  1788, 

“ July, 

1790 

David  Smith,  . 

u 

July,  1700, 

“ May, 

1792 

Ebenezer  Adams, 

66 

May,  1792, 

“ July, 

1806 

Zephaniah  S.  Moore, 

a 

July,  1806, 

“ Oct. 

1807 

Simeon  Colton, 

u 

Oct.  1807, 

“ Feb. 

1809 

Luther  Wilson, 

66 

Feb.  1809, 

“ Aug. 

1812 

Josiah  Clark, 

66 

March,  1812, 

“ Aug. 

1818 

Bradford  Sumner, 

1 term,  1818, 

u 

1819 

John  Richardson, 

« 

Feb.  1819, 

“ Aug. 

1833 

Luther  Wright, 

u 

Aug.  1833, 

“ Aug. 

1839 

Joseph  L.  Partridge,  . 

u 

Aug.  1839, 

“ Nov. 

1845 

Josiah  Clark,  Jr., 

u 

Jan.  1846, 

“ Jan. 

1849 

Burritt  A.  Smith, 

66 

July,  1849, 

“ Aug. 

1852 

Alvan  Hyde  Washburn, 

66 

Aug,  1852. 

ASSOCIATE 

OR 

ENGLISH 

PRECEPTORS. 

Thomas  Payson, 

from 

1784  to 

1786 

Amos  Crosby, 

66 

1786  “ 

1787 

Samuel  Sumner,  . 

66 

1788  « 

1788 

Ebenezer  Adams, 

66 

1791  « 

1792 

Thomas  S.  Sparhawk,  . 

66 

1792  “ 

1793 

Samuel  Crossett, 

1 quarter, 

1793 

John  Pierce, 

. from 

1793  « 

1795 

Theodore  Dehon, 

66 

1795  “ 

1796 

James  Jackson,  . 

2 quarters 

1796  « 

1797 

Samuel  Hunt,  Jr.,  ? 
John  Dixwell,  > 

* 

2 quarters, 

1797 

131 


"William  M.  Richardson, 
Thaddeus  Fairbanks 
Timothy  Boutelle, 
Timothy  Fuller, 

Eleazer  Foster, 

George  C.  Shuttuck, 

Otis  Hutchins, 

William  J.  Whipple,  . 
Luther  Wilson, 

John  Field, 

John  Nelson, 

Josiah  Clark, 

Amos  Nurse, 

Waldo  Flint, 

Ezra  Hunt, 

John  F.  Adams,  . 
Emory  Washburn, 
David  Brigham,  . 
Bradford  Russell, 
Thomas  Fiske, 

Increase  S.  Smith, 
Alonzo  Hill, 

Thomas  Denny, 

Increase  S.  Smith, 
Henry  D.  Ward, 
Charles  Sprague  Henry, 
Albert  Spooner, 

Joseph  L.  Partridge,  . 
Amos  Bullard, 

Josiah  Clark,  Jr., 

John  N.  Putnam, 
Burritt  A.  Smith,  — . 
William  W.  Rice, 
Hanson  L.  Reed, 


from 

1797  to 

1798 

ii 

1798 

a 

1800 

it 

1800 

u 

1801 

U 

1801 

tt 

1802 

ii 

1802 

tt 

1803 

ii 

1803 

it 

1804 

a 

1804 

tt 

1805 

if 

1805 

tt 

1806 

it 

1806 

tt 

1807 

u. 

1807 

u 

1808 

1 quarter, 

1808 

. from 

1808 

u 

1812 

« 

1812 

tt 

1814 

a 

1814 

a 

1815 

u. 

1815 

tt 

1817 

3 quarters, 

1817 

it 

1818 

1 quarter, 

1818 

1 quarter, 

1819 

. from 

1819 

tt 

1820 

from  1820  to  June, 

1821 

. from 

1821  to 

1822 

from  1822  to  April,  1824 

1 quarter, 

1824 

. from 

1824 

to 

1826 

from  May, 

1826 

n 

1828 

from 

1828 

u 

1829 

u. 

1829 

a 

1833 

u 

1833 

tt 

1830 

a 

1839 

tt 

1841 

from  1841  to  Nov. 

, 1845 

. from 

1846  to 

184T 

from  1847  to  July, 

1849 

. from 

1849 

to 

1851 

a 

1851. 

Besides  the  above,  the  following  gentlemen  have  been  em- 
ployed as  temporary  assistants,  or,  under  the  present  arrange- 
ment of  the  schools,  as  permanent  assistants  in  the  instruction 
of  the  academy : 


1785,  . 
1791,  . 
1799,  . 
1802,  . 


Phinehas  Bruce. 
Stephen  Ball. 
Alpheus  Stone. 
Charles  Bulfinch. 


1802,  . 

. 

. 

James  Ray. 

1802,  . 

. 

Joel  Davis. 

1803,  . 

Edward  A.  Selfredge. 

1808,  . 

Joseph  Sprague. 

1812,  . 

Penuel  Corbet. 

1814,  . 

John  W.  Hubbard. 

1815,  . 

Amos  Hunting. 

1816-17,  . 

Seth  "Washburn. 

1817, . 

Amon,’  Hunting. 

1818, . 

John  Goulding. 

1819, . 

George  W.  Livermore. 

1821, . 

John  Sargent. 

1822, . 

John  Jennison. 

1823, . 

Amos  D.  Wheeler. 

1828,  . 

Dexter  S.  King. 

1834  to  1845, 

Luther  Haven. 

1834,  . 

Charles  C.  Jewett. 

1846  to  1848, 

Francis  A.  March. 

1848  to  1849, 

William  W.  Rice. 

1849  to  1851, 

Hanson  L.  Reed. 

1851  to  1852, 

Jonathan  L.  Jenkins. 

1852  to  1854, 

Jacob  Ide. 

1854,  . 

FEMALE 

. Charles  R.  Bliss. 

TEACHERS. 

1835  to  1848, 

Miss  Elizabeth  Holmes. 

1849,  . 

Mrs.  Mary  G.  Smith. 

1850,  . 

Miss  Elizabeth  F.  Bardv 

1850,  . 

Miss  Margaret  B.  Smith. 

1851,  . 

Mrs.  Marianne  Bullard. 

Benjamin  Stone,  Esq.,  was  the  first  teacher  and  preceptor 
employed  in  Leicester  Academy.  He  was  a native  of  Shrews- 
bury, and  was  graduated  at  Harvard,  in  1776.  He  entered 
upon  his  duties,  in  this  academy,  June  7th,  1784.  His 
salary,  at  first,  was  £60  a year,  which  "was  increased,  the 
following  year,  to  £85.  Even  this,  howTever,  was  in  arrear, 
at  times,  in  consequence  of  the  embarrassed  state  of  the 
finances  of  the  academy.  And,  in  1787,  in  consequence  of 
the  reduced  number  of  students  in  the  academy,  it  was 
concluded  to  employ  but  a single  teacher.  Mr.  Stone  was 
voted  a leave  of  absence,  to  return  when  the  number  of 
students  should  require  his  services. 


133 

His  engagements,  elsewhere,  probably  prevented  bis  resum- 
ing bis  engagement,  for  he  docs  not  appear  to  have  acted  as 
preceptor  after  this  time. 

After  leaving  Leicester,  be  was  preceptor  of  AVestford 
Academy,  for  some  time.  But,  for  many  years  before  his 
death,  lie  resided  in  Shrewsbury,  in  great  retirement,  upon  a 
farm,  in  feeble  health  and  impaired  spirits. 

lie,  however,  retained,  to  the  last,  a lively  interest  in  this 
academy,  and  often  spoke,  with  great  pleasure,  of  the  period 
when  he  was  at  its  head. 

There  can  be,  of  course,  but  little  in  the  life  of  such  a man 
to  record.  Those  who  remembered  him,  and  there  were 
many,  till  a few  years  since,  in  his  capacity  of  teacher,  spoke 
of  him  as  faithful,  and  devoted  to  his  office,  and  well  qualified 
for  its  duties. 

He  lived  to  see  the  first  boy  who  entered  his  school,  the 
Governor  of  a neighboring  State,  and  the  sons  of  Leicester 
Academy  scattered,  and  making  their  influence  felt,  in  almost, 
if  not  every,  State  in  the  Union.  Such  has  been  the  harvest 
of  that  seed,  that  was  sown  in  weakness,  within  the  memory 
of  a few  still  living  witnesses.  Mr.  Stone  died  in  1832,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six. 

Amos  Crosby,  Esq.,  succeeded  Mr.  Stone.  He  wras 
assistant  preceptor,  in  1786,  and,  in  October,  1787,  was 
elected  principal  preceptor  of  the  academy.  This  office  he 
held  till  July  of  the' following  year. 

Mr.  Crosby  was  a native  of  Brookfield,  and  was  graduated 
at  Cambridge,  in  1786. 

After  leaving  Leicester,  he  was  a tutor  in  Harvard  College, 
for  four  years ; after  which,  he  was  employed,  awhile,  as 
principal  preceptor  of  Westford  Academy,  succeeding  Mr. 
Stone  there,  as  he  had  done  at  Leicester. 

Upon  giving  up  teaching,  he  studied  law,  and  settled  in 
Brookfield,  where  he  remained  till  his  death. 

He  was  a man  of  great  quickness,  and  ready  wit,  with 
convivial  tastes  and  habits. 


9 


As  a scholar,  lie  held  a creditable  rank,  and  his  early 
success  in  life  gave  an  earnest  of  an  honorable  and  distin- 
guished career. 

But  the  tastes  and  habits  which  rendered  his  society 
attractive,  in  early  and  middle  life,  obtained  a mastery  over 
him,  in  more  mature  years.  And,  though  his  life  was 
protracted,  it  added  nothing  to  the  reputation  and  rank  he 
held,  upon  entering  the  profession  he  had  chosen. 

He  died  June,  1836,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five. 

Rev.  Samuel  Sumner  followed  Mr.  Crosby,  in  the  office 
of  preceptor. 

He  was  first  appointed  English  preceptor,  in  July,  1788  ; 
and,  in  October  of  that  year,  on  account  of  the  straitened 
circumstances  of  the  academy,  he  was  put  in  charge  of  both 
schools,  and  continued  to  conduct  them  as  long  as  he 
remained  connected  with  the  academy.  In  July,  1790,  lie 
was  succeeded  by  David  Smith. 

Mr.  Sumner  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sumner,  of 
Shrewsbury,  and  was  born  September  24th,  1765. 

He  was  graduated  at  Dartmouth,  in  1786.  After  leaving 
Leicester,  he  studied  theology  with  his  father,  and  was  or- 
dained over  the  church  and  society  in  Southboro’,  in  June, 
1791.  In  1797,  he  was  dismissed,  and  removed  to  St.  Albans, 
Vt.,  where  he  continued  to  preach,  although  not  settled  over 
any  society. 

From  St.  Albans  he  removed  to  Bakersfield,  Vt.,  about  the 
year  1803,  and  preached  there  for  a while.  After  that,  he 
removed  to  Troy,  Vt.,  where  he  died,  at  the  residence  of  his 
son,  in  the  year  1837,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 

It  is  said  that  he  often  expressed  the  belief  that  he  had 
mistaken  his  mission  in  selecting  the  pulpit  for  his  sphere  of 
duty,  and  no  particular  success  seems  to  have  distinguished 
his  career  after  leaving  the  academy,  where  he  had  proved 
himself  an  acceptable  teacher,  though  his  temperament  disin- 
clined him  to  active  effort  in  any  calling. 

Rev.  David  Smith.  Of  this  gentleman,  who  succeeded 


Mr.  Sumner  in  July,  1790,  and  held  the  place  of  preceptor 
till  May,  1792, 1 am  in  possession  of  fewer  facts  tlian  I could 
have  wished.  From  the  kindness,  however,  of  friends,*  I am 
enabled  to  give  the  following  : 

lie  was  the  son  of  Gol.  Isaac  Smith,  of  Ipswich,  Mass.,  born 
July  23d,  1761,  and  wras  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1790.  He 
immediately  afterwards  engaged  in  teaching  at  Leicester  Acad- 
emy, as  has  been  mentioned.  While  thus*  employed,  he  was 
engaged  in  studying  theology,  and,  upon  leaving  Leicester, 
pursued  the  study  w ith  the  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Dana,  and  in 
January,  1795,  was  settled  in  the  ministry  at  Amesbury,  Mass. 
In  1802  or  3,  having  dissolved  his  connection  with  his  people, 
in  May,  1800,  he  was  employed  as  a missionary  in  the  western 
part  of  New  York,  whose  settlements  wrcre  then  new  and 
sparse.  Here  he  lost  the  use  of  his  voice  to  such  a degree 
as  to  incapacitate  him  from  preaching,  and  to  compel  him  to 
abandon  the  ministry.  Before  engaging  as  a missionary,  he 
had  been  employed  in  teaching  school  in  Salem. 

In  1807,  he  removed  to  Bath,  N.  II.,  where,  and  in  Fran- 
conia, he  resided  nineteen  years,  having,  during  that  time, 
charge  of  the  iron  w orks  at  Franconia  in  that  State. 

In  1826,  he  removed  to  Portland,  Me.,  where  he  died.  May 
19th,  1837,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  leaving  a family  of  sons 
and  daughters.  In  person,  he  was  tall,  slender,  and  well 
formed,  his  countenance  handsome  and  intelligent,  his  voice 
pleasant,  and  his  deportment  and  manners  bland  and  dignified. 

Ebenezer  Adams,  Esq.,  became  the  English  preceptor  in 
May,  1791,  upon  the  revival  of  the  school,  and  the  employ- 
ment again  of  separate  teachers  in  the  respective  departments. 
He  taught  in  this  department  till  May,  1792,  wrhen  he  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Smith  as  principal. 

This  place  he  held  till  July,  1806,  wdien  he  resigned  it,  and 
removed  to  Portland,  Maine,  to  take  charge  of  an  academy 
there.  He  remained  there,  I believe,  but  a single  year,  when 


* 0.  Carlton.  Esq.,  of  Salem,  and  I.  Goodall,  Esq.,  of  Bath,  and  Dr.  J.  A.  Palmer.  Boston. 


lie  was  appointed  to  the  head  of  the  mathematical  department 
of  Exeter  Academy,  and  held  that  place  two  years. 

In  1809,  he  was  appointed  professor  of  the  languages  in 
Dartmouth  College,  of  which  college  he  was  an  alumnus,  and, 
in  1811,  was  transferred  to  the  professorship  of  mathematics 
and  natural  philosophy,  for  which  he  was  admirably  fitted  by 
taste  as  well  as  culture.  His  professorship  he  retained  till 
1833,  when  he  resigned  it,  and  lived  in  retirement  till  his 
death,  in  184S,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven. 

The  connection  of  Prof.  Adams  with  this  academy  deserves 
something  more  than  a passing  notice.  It  was  to  his  exertions 
and  his  skill  and  learning  as  a teacher,  more  than  anything 
else,  that  the  institution  acquired  the  high  reputation  which  it 
held  under  his  administration,  and  may  be  said  to  have  held, 
with  perhaps  unequal  prominence  at  times,  ever  since. 

He  was  a native  of  New  Ipswich,  N.  II.,  and  was  born  in 
1765.  He  was  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College,  in  1791,  so 
that  he  entered  upon  his  duties,  as  a teacher,  before  he  had 
received  his  diploma  as  a graduate  from  college. 

He  was,  at  that  time,  of  the  mature  age  of  twenty-six 
years ; and  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  place,  as  a 
profession  which  he  was  to  pursue  for  life,  and  he  brought 
to  it  strong  powers  and  a willing  spirit. 

While  at  Leicester,  he  was  appointed  a Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  was,  I believe,  the  first  postmaster  of  the  town. 
This  was  in  1805. 

Mr.  Adams  was  fortunate,  also,  in  those  who  were  asso- 
ciated with  him,  as  the  preceptors  in  the  English  department. 
And  I have  only  to  mention  Dr.  Pierce,  Bishop  Dehon,  Dr. 
Jackson,  Chief  Justice  Richardson,  and  Hon.  Timothy  Bou- 
telle,  as  among  the  number,  to  be  justified  in  the  remark. 

When,  in  1798,  Dr.  Moore  became  the  minister  of  the 
parish,  he  found  him,  at  once,  a congenial  spirit ; and  an 
acquaintance  which  had  begun  in  college,  ripened  into  an 
intimate  friendship,  which  ceased  only  with  their  lives. 

Under  these  circumstances,  it  was  fortunate  for  Professor 


Adams,  as  well  as  the  academy,  that  he  was  employed  to 
developc  and  direct  its  early  character. 

i 1 is  mind  was  remarkably  clear,  his  knowledge  accurate, 
and  his  skill  and  judgment  in  the  management  and  discipline 
of  a school,  rarely  surpassed. 

This  justly  gave  him  a strong  hold  upon  the  respect  of  his 
pupils ; and  the  urbanity  of  his  manners,  united  to  the  fear- 
lessness with  which  he  maintained  his  opinions,  won  their 
confidence  and  esteem. 

Many  of  the  early  pupils  of  the  academy  remember  Mr. 
Adams ; and,  as  an  evidence  that  I do  not  speak  from 
impressions  derived  from  an  intimate  knowledge  of  him  in 
after  years,  I quote,  writh  pleasure,  from  one  of  the  many 
letters  I have  received,  in  which  expressions  of  a kindly 
remembrance  are  indulged,  the  following,  from  one  of  his 
former  pupils  : 

“ Do  you  remember  that  highly-respected,  strong  man,  Ebenezer  Adams  ? 
lie  was  a man  of  great  intellectual  powers,  although  there  was  no  manifes- 
tation of  it  in  his  deportment.  He  exerted  a good  and  powerful  influence 
over  those  under  his  charge.  I remember  him  with  feelings  of  gratitude 
and  profound  respect.” 

The  sentiments  of  the  trustees,  in  respect  to  his  character 
and  qualifications,  for  the  place  he  had  held,  are  preserved  in 
the  letter  upon  their  records,  addressed  to  him,  in  reply  to 
one  tendering  his  resignation  : 

“ Permit  us,  sir,  to  express  our  unreserved  approbation  of  your  conduct 
in  the  government  and  instruction  of  the  academy,  and  to  tender  you  our 
sincere  thanks  for  your  long,  vigilant,  and  faithful  services  in  those  trusts.” 

I add  to  this  testimonial,  an  extract,  from  the  address  of 
Dr.  Pierce,  to  which  I have  so  often  referred : 

“ Here  I became  intimately  associated,  in  the  instruction  and  government 
of  this  institution,  with  Ebenezer  Adams,  the  principal,  whose  name  I cannot 
recall  without  deep  emotions  of  respect  and  affection ; with  whom  I was  in 
habits  of  increasing  intimacy,  so  long  as  he  was  spared  to  the  world.” 


Mr.  Adams  married  Alice,  daughter  of  Doctor  Russel, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven,  in  1800,  leaving  five 
children,  all  but  one  of  whom  fell  victims  to  that  insidious 
disease,  consumption,  that  seems  to  mark  the  fairest  and 
brightest  of  our  race  for  an  early  grave.  His  son,  once  a 
preceptor  of  the  English  department,  alone  survives.  But 
two  children,  by  a second  marriage,  are  living ; one  of  them, 
the  wife  of  Professor  Young,  his  successor,  as  a professor,  in 
Dartmouth  College. 

Professor  Adams  retained,  through  life,  an  undiminished 
attachment  to  the  place  and  people  with  whom  he  was  so 
long  associated.  And,  whenever  he  re-visited  them,  as  he 
sometimes  did,  he  found  these  feelings  cordially  reciprocated 
by  all  who  had  known  him  there. 

He  was  succeeded,  as  preceptor,  by  one,  who,  perhaps, 
better  than  any  other,  could  carry  out  that  system  of  discipline 
and  instruction  which,  under  Mr.  Adams,  had  raised  the 
reputation  of  the  academy  so  high  — the  Rev.  Dr.  Moore  — 
of  whom  I have  already  spoken,  in  my  notices  of  the  trustees 
of  the  academy. 

Of  Mr.  Colton,  and  Mr.  Wilson,  happily  I am  spared  the 
occasion  to  associate  their  names  with  any  but  the  living 
memorials  of  the  school  they  once  taught.  And  of  Mr. 
Clark  I have  already  spoken,  in  his  character  as  trustee. 

Mr.  Sumner,  too,  is  still  among  us. 

John  Richardson  became  preceptor,  in  August,  1819, 
and  held  the  place  four  years.  He  was  a native  of  Woburn, 
and  was  graduated  at  Cambridge,  in  1813.  He  was  an 
accurate  scholar  and  a good  instructor.  After  resigning  his 
place,  at  Leicester,  he  removed  to  Andover,  and  died  in  1841. 

There  is  less  occasion  to  dwell  upon  the  connection  of  Mr. 
Richardson,  with  the  academy,  from  the  extent  to  which  I 
have  already  had  occasion  to  notice  the  important  changes 
that  took  place,  under  his  administration,  about  the  time  of 
the  accession  to  the  funds  of  the  academy,  by  the  legacy  of 
Capt.  Waters. 


As  all  the  remaining  preceptors  of  the  academy  are  still 
living,  I recur  to  those,  who,  on  their  part,  have  aided  in 
sustaining  the  English  department  of  the  school. 

Thomas  Payson,  Esq.,  was  the  first  of  these,  having 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  in  August,  1784.  If  a 
man  were  willing  to  labor  for  worldly  renown  alone,  the  life 
of  a teacher  would  be  one  of  the  last  in  which  he  would 
engage,  lie  sows  seed  which  but  begins  to  germinate  in  his 
own  day ; and  the  generation  that  comes  after  him  only 
knows  the  true  fruits  of  his  toils.  And  yet  it  is  not  the  meed 
of  popular  applause  that  he  then  wins,  and  he  must  be 
content  with  the  consciousness  of  a noble  duty,  well  done, 
and  the  assurance  that  his  memory  will  be  gratefully  cherished 
by  a few,  while,  to  most  of  the  world,  the  fact  of  his  having 
lived  will  have  hided  aw'ay. 

Mr.  Payson  is  not  a rare  illustration  of  what  I have  found 
true,  in  my  investigations  for  the  materials  of  this  report. 
Not  a few  were  still  living,  who  had  been  his  pupils  at 
Leicester  Academy,  and  who,  one  and  all,  spoke  in  terms  of 
affection  and  respect  of  their  early  teacher ; but,  of  his  fate 
and  his  fortune,  after  that  period,  they  could  not  inform  me. 

Fortunately,  I applied  to  Dr.  Joseph  Palmer,  whose  dili- 
gence in  storing  facts,  especially  in  the  “ necrology  ” of  the 
graduates  of  Harvard,  is  only  surpassed  by  the  kindness  and 
liberality  with  which  he  contributes  of  the  results  of  his 
labors  to  others  ; and,  through  him,  and  a note  of  great 
delicacy  and  propriety,  which  he  procured  from  a daughter 
of  Mr.  Payson,  I am  able  to  give  a brief  outline  of  his  life. 

He  was  born  in  Boston,  on  the  28th  of  October,  1764. 
He  was  fitted  for  college  at  Andover,  and  was  graduated  at 
Cambridge,  in  1784,  and  immediately  afterwards  entered 
upon  liis  engagement  at  Leicester.  Here  he  remained  two 
years,  and,  during  that  time,  was  engaged  in  the  study  of 
theology,  and  he  subsequently  preached  occasionally,  but  was 
never  settled. 

After  leaving  Leicester,  he  removed  to  Worcester,  where 


140 


he  was  employed  in  teaching,  for  two  or  more  years  ; and, 
afterwards,  for  several  years,  was  engaged  in  trade,  in  that 
town.  From  Worcester  he  removed  to  Charlestown,  where, 
in  1797,  he  again  resumed  the  business  of  teaching,  as  pre- 
ceptor of  the  Russel  Academy.  Here  he  remained  four  years, 
and  then  removed  to  Boston,  where  he  again  engaged  in 
mercantile  business.  He  relinquished  this  business,  however, 
after  a few  years,  and,  in  1809,  was  made  master  of  the 
Franklin  Grammar  School,  as  it  was  afterwards  called,  which 
place  he  held  for  fourteen  years.  In  1826,  he  removed  to 
Peterboro’,  N.  H.,  where  he  resided  till  his  death,  April  20, 
1844. 

He  was  a man  of  liberal  sentiments,  kindly  feelings,  and 
ready  sympathies.  Being  a good  scholar,  with  a taste  and 
tact  for  instruction,  he  could  hardly  fail  to  be  a successful  and 
acceptable  instructor.  He  had,  too,  a frown,  and  a manner, 
that  awed  the  disorderly  or  disobedient,  as  well  as  the  cheerful 
look  of  encouragement,  and  sunny  smile,  that  won  the  favor 
and  affections  of  the  young,  and  qualified  him  for  what  he  so 
long  was  — a teacher. 

Thomas  S.  Sparhawk,  Esq.,  became  English  preceptor, 
in  May,  1792,  and  held  the  office  a little  more  than  a year. 

He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  Sparhawk,  of  Templeton, 
and  was  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College,  in  1791,  a class- 
mate of  Mr.  Adams,  whom  he  succeeded  as  preceptor  of  the 
English  school. 

He  afterwards  studied  law  with  Silas  Lee,  Esq.,  in  Wis- 
casset,  Me.,  and  established  himself  in  his  profession,  at 
Bucksport,  in  that  State. 

He  occasionally  represented  that  town  in  the  legislature, 
and  was  gaining  a good  business  and  reputation,  as  a lawyer, 
when  he  was  cut  off,  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven,  in  the  year 
1807,  leaving  a family  of  children,  a portion  of  whom  still 
survive. 

Of  Samuel  Crossett,  who  held  the  place  of  English  pre- 
ceptor, for  a single  term,  in  1793,  I have  only  been  able  to 


141 


ascertain  that  he  was  graduated  at  Dartmouth,  in  1792.  Of 
his  subsequent  history,  I have  no  knowledge. 

Rev.  John  Pierce,  D.  D.  The  memory  of  this  excellent 
man  and  accomplished  teacher,  is  still  so  fresh  in  the  minds 
of  the  people  of  Massachusetts,  that  it  seems  almost  a work  of 
supererogation,  to  attempt  to  write  his  history. 

He  was  preceptor  of  the  English  department,  for  two  years 
from  July,  1798.  After  a period  of  more  than  fifty  years, 
when  that  hair,  of  which  he  spoke,  had  become  whitened  with 
age,  he  was  invited  to  come  and  make  the  annual  address  at 
the  public  exhibition.  This  address  was  listened  to,  with 
great  delight,  by  a large  audience.  It  is  now  before  me,  and 
I have  already  borrowed  freely  from  the  facts  it  embodies. 
Nor  can  I better  present  the  well-stored  memory,  the  genial 
and  kindly  feelings,  the  freshness,  sincerity,  and  singleness  of 
heart,  which  made  Dr.  Pierce  so  universally  beloved,  in  a 
better  form,  than  to  copy,  from  this  address,  his  account  of 
the  condition  of  the  academy  when  he  taught  there,  and  the 
part  he  took  in  the  management  and  instruction  of  the  school : 

“ From  the  circumstance  that  I am  in  the  very  front  rank  of  living 
instructors  in  this  academy,  it  seems  peculiarly  appropriate,  to  ‘ narrative 
old  age/  to  recount  a few  of  the  multifarious  reminiscences,  which  rush  into 
my  mind  whenever  I ascend  ‘ Leicester  Hill.’  For  here,  on  leaving  Harvard 
University,  on  the  very  week  which  completed  my  twentieth  year,  I began 
to  breathe  the  air  of  freedom.  I was  left  to  be  my  own  director,  and,  what 
was  more  arduous  still,  I had  the  instruction  of  pupils,  both  male  and  female, 
for  two  successive  years,  committed  to  my  care,  a considerable  portion  of 
whom  were  my  seniors.  One  had  himself  been  an  instructor  before  my 
remembrance,  and,  while  under  my  tuition  here,  received  from  the  Governor 
and  Council,  a Justice’s  commission  ; so  that  I had  the  pleasure,  the  day  he 
left  us,  of  addressing  him,  in  the  presence  of  my  pupils,  as  ‘ Esquire  Fay.’  * 

“ Here,  the  purpose  entertained  from  early  youth,  was  confirmed,  of 
becoming  a preacher  of  the  Gospel  of  Peace,  of  truth,  and  of  love ; and  a 
precious  opportmiity  was  afforded,  by  the  small,  yet  well-selected  library, 
which  a generous  individual  had  presented  to  this  academy,  t 

* The  gentleman  referred  to  by  Dr.  1’.  was  Nahum  Fay,  Esq.,  of  Northboro’.  He  was 
married  in  1779 ; had  been  many  years  employed  as  a school  teacher,  and,  wishing  to  acquire 
a more  accurate  knowledge  in  some  departments,  he  came  to  the  academy,  in  his  own 
carriage,  driven  by  a son  thirteen  years  old.  He  lived  to  be  eighty-four  years  of  age,  and  died 
in  1841 

t Gov.  Gill. 


142 


“ For  the  first  year  of  my  instruction  here,  my  salary  was  £60,  or  $200. 

“ At  first  thought,  tills  seems  a scanty  pittance,  but  its  comparative  value 
will  be  more  justly  estimated,  when  it  is  stated  that  the  board  in  ‘ commons  ’ 
was  then  but  os.  6d.  per  week. 

“ The  second  year,  my  salary  was  £7 5,  or  $250. 

“ During  that  period,  the  compensation  to  school  teachers,  from  the  under- 
graduates of  Harvard  University,  ranged  from  eight  to  ten  dollars  per  month, 
exclusive  of  board. 

“ On  first  coming  here,  it  seemed,  to  my  youthful  imagination,  a long 
journey.*  I had  never  been  so  far  from  home  by  several  miles.  According 
to  the  costume  of  the  times,  I then  wore  a cocked,  or  three-cornered  hat. 
My  hair  was  queued  with  a ribbon,  halfway  down  my  back.  I had  silver 
knee-buckles  at  my  knees ; my  plated  shoe-buckles  covered  more  than  half 
of  my  insteps. 

“ Over  the  Latin  school,  was  a chamber,  in  which  the  principal  and  myself 
occupied  the  same  bed,  for  the  two  years  we  were  together.  Not  only  so, 
when  a college  friend  was  to  pass  the  night  with  us,  we  all  three  slept 
together.”  f 

I should  gladly  borrow  other  extracts,  if  I did  not  fear, 
by  so  doing,  that  I should  extend  this  report  beyond  the  plan 
as  originally  entertained  in  preparing  it.  I have  given  enough 
to  show,  that  age  never  chilled,  nor  length  of  time  dampened, 
the  warm  heart  and  lively  sensibilities  with  which  he  had  first 
gone  out  into  the  world. 

He  retained  an  interest  in  the  academy  as  long  as  he  lived. 

After  leaving  Leicester,  he  became  a tutor  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege, and  was  ordained  over  the  church  and  society  in  Brook- 
line, in  1797,  in  which  he  continued  to  minister  till  his  death, 
July,  1849,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  He  received  the  hon- 
orary degree  of  D.  D.,  from  his  Alma  Mater,  in  1822. 

Bev.  Theodore  Dehox,  D.  D.  succeeded  Dr.  Pierce  in 


* His  native  place  was  Dorchester. 

t I cannot  forbear  one  more  extract,  illustrating  the  change  that  has  taken  place  in  the 
means  of  inter-communication,  between  city  and  country,  since  that  day : 

“ On  the  morning  of  I9th  July,  1793, 1 embarked,  very  early  in  the  morning,  in  Pease's 
stage,  from  Boston,  spending  the  previous  night  in  town,  that  I might  be  in  season.  Pease, 
himself,  of  Shrewsbury,  drove  the  carriage.  We  breakfasted  in  Weston,  dined  in  Wor- 
cester, and,  late  in  the  afternoon,  arrived  at  Leicester. 

“ But  this  was  expedition,  compared  with  my  first  return  home,  when  we  started  at  9|  from 
Leicester,  dined  in  Worcester,  supped  and  lodged  in  Marlboro",  the  next  morning  we  break- 
fasted in  Weston,  and  arrived  at  Boston  the  second  day,  at  121.” 


143 


the  English  school,  and  was,  in  every  way,  worthy  to  suc- 
ceed so  excellent  a man.  He  was  horn  in  Boston,  December 
8,  1776,  and  was  of  that  noble  Huguenot  stock,  second  only, 
if  at  all,  to  the  Puritan  and  the  Pilgrim. 

He  was  graduated  at  Harvard,  in  1795,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  with  high  honor  as  a scholar.  The  next  year, 
though  but  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  took  charge  of  the  Eng- 
lish department  of  the  academy,  in  which  he  acquitted  him- 
self with  great  approbation  and  success. 

Upon  leaving  Leicester,  he  entered  upon  the  study  of  the- 
ology, and  was  admitted  to  the  order  of  Priest  in  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  in  1800.  He,  at  the  same  time,  became  rector 
of  the  church  in  Newport,  where  he  remained  till  1809, 
when,  in  consequence  of  impaired  health,  he  removed  to 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  was  made  rector  of  St.  Michael’s 
Church  in  that  city. 

In  1812,  he  was  unanimously  elected  bishop  of  the  dio- 
cese of  South  Carolina,  and  sustained  the  office  with  great 
dignity  and  ability,  till  his  death,  August  6th,  1817,  when  he 
fell  a victim  to  the  yellow  fever. 

For  one  dying  at  the  early  age  of  forty-one,  he  had  accom- 
plished much,  and  left  the  memory  of  a life  filled  with  use- 
fulness and  honor. 

In  1809,  he  was  honored  with  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from 
the  college  of  New  Jersey. 

He  published  occasional  sermons  and  addresses  during  his 
lifetime,  and,  after  his  death,  two  volumes  of  his  sermons 
were  published. 

Few  remember  Bishop  Dehon  as  a teacher  after  the  lapse 
of  near  two  generations,  but  the  tradition  that  has  come  down 
to  us  from  his  pupils  and  associates  is  that,  though  young  in 
years  and  small  in  stature,  maturity  of  intellect  supplied  the 
one,  and  dignity,  energy  and  promptness  made  one  forget 
the  other,  in  his  presence.  He  was  a popular  teacher,  and 
shewed  as  great  a readiness  in  teaching  others  as  he  had  in 
the  development  of  his  own  scholarship  in  college. 


144 


Dr.  John  Dixwell,  under  the  name  of  Samuel  Hunt,  Jr., 
succeeded  Dr.  Jackson,  as  English  preceptor,  in  January, 
1797,  Dr.  Jackson  having  been  called  away  from  the  acad- 
emy after  half  a year’s  service. 

He  was  a native  of  Boston,  and  a classmate  of  Dr.  Jack- 
son  in  the  class  of  1796,  at  Harvard.  He  only  remained  the 
balance  of  the  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  Hon.  W.  M.  Rich- 
ardson. 

He  was  well  spoken  of  as  a teacher,  though  not  engaged 
long  enough  to  be  distinguished. 

His  father  was  a master  of  one  of  the  Boston  schools,  and 
his  mother  a direct,  lineal  descendant  from  the  famous  Colonel 
John  Dixwell,  the  Regicide,  he  having,  as  it  will  be  remem- 
bered, fled  to  this  countiy  after  the  restoration,  and  married 
late  in  life  in  New  Haven,  where  his  grave  now  is. 

Out  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  this  illustrious  ancestor, 
Mr.  Hunt  was  permitted  to  take  the  name  which  he  ever 
afterwards  bore,  leaving  descendants  who  still  sustain  the 
family  name. 

He  studied  medicine,  and  earned  for  himself,  in  that  pro- 
fession, a reputation  which  was  independent  of  traditionary 
fame. 

He  died,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven,  in  the  year  1884.  He 
is  remembered,  when  at  the  academy,  as  of  medium  height, 
handsome  form,  and  careful  and  neat  in  his  person  and  his 
dress. 

Hon.  William  Merchant  Richardson  became  the  Eng- 
lish preceptor,  in  July,  1797,  and  filled  the  place  for  one 
year.  As  such,  he  made  an  impression  upon  his  pupils  which 
seemed  to  anticipate  the  eminent  rank  he  afterwards  attained 
in  life. 

He  was  born  in  Pelham,  N.  H.,  January  4,  1774,  and 
worked  upon  his  father’s  farm  till  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age. 

He  was  graduated  at  Cambridge,  in  1797,  and  immediately 
became  a teacher  at  Leicester. 

After  leaving  here,  he  became  principal  of  the  Groton 


145 


Academy,  while  he  was  engaged  in  studying  law  in  the  office 
of  the  late  Chief  Justice  Dana  of  that  town. 

He  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  the  same 
town,  and,  in  1811,  was  chosen  to  Congress  from  that  district 
and  served  a part  of  two  terms. 

In  1814,  he  removed  to  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  where  he 
resumed  his  profession  with  good  success. 

The  following  little  anecdote,  which  was  told  by  an  early 
friend  and  admirer  of  Chief  Justice  Richardson,  illustrates 
either  a premonition  in  his  own  mind,  or  one  of  those  fortunate 
foretellings  which  is  not  prophecy. 

Chief  Justice  Parsons  had  died  in  1813.  Such  wras  the 
veneration  for  his  name  as  a jurist,  that  the  possession  of  a 
book  which  he  had  owned  and  studied,  was  a thing  'which 
almost  any  lawyer  would  desire.  One  of  these  wras  sold, 
among  other  books,  at  auction,  and  purchased  by  Mr.  P. 
“ There,”  said  he,  “ I am  going  up  to  New  Hampshire,  and 
with  this  book  I am  going  to  become  Chief  Justice  of  that 
State  in  twTo  years.” 

Probably  the  book  had  very  little  to  do  with  the  event, 
but,  in  1816,  he  was  appointed  to  the  place  of  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  that  State,  and  held  the  office  as 
long  as  he  lived. 

He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  LL.  D.  from  Dart- 
mouth College,  in  1827. 

In  1819,  he  removed  to  Chester,  where  he  resided  till  his 
death,  in  March,  1838. 

Chief  Justice  Richardson  was  a learned  lawyer  and  a strong 
man.  His  legal  opinions,  extending  through  a period  of 
twenty-tw^o  years,  are  monuments  of  diligence,  faithfulness, 
and  learning.  He  was  a scholar  of  refined  and  cultivated 
taste,  and,  in  social  and  private  life,  is  always  spoken  of  as 
a pleasant  companion  and  a valuable  friend.  In  person,  he  was 
of  a figure  above  the  ordinary  size,  and  of  dignified  bearing. 

While  residing  at  Leicester,  he  readily  adapted  himself  to 
the  tastes  and  sympathies  of  the  people  as  well  as  of  his  pupils, 


146 


and,  among  the  illustrations  of  these,  was  the  zeal  and  spirit 
with  which  he  conducted  the  sacred  music  at  the  ordination 
of  Dr.  Moore,  when  an  ordination  was  one  of  the  great 
events  of  the  year,  and  the  leader  of  the  choir  for  the  occasion, 
was  scarce  inferior  in  importance  to  the  preacher  of  the  ordi- 
nation sermon. 

These  recitals  may  seem  to  partake  rather  of  the  character 
of  gossip  than  grave  biography.  But  it  is  by  unimportant 
personal  anecdotes,  often,  that  the  true  character  of  a man  is 
read. 

Dr.  Thaddeus  Fairbanks  succeeded  Chief  Justice 
Bichardson,  in  1798,  and  remained  connected  with  the 
academy  till  1800. 

He  was  born  in  Shelburn,  Mass.,  in  1772,  and  was 
graduated  at  Yale  College,  in  1796. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  “ a popular  and  successful  teacher, 
though  of  somewhat  gay  and  fashionable  manners.”  “ He  was 
loved,  respected,  and  cheerfully  obeyed  by  his  pupils.  He 
had  a happy  faculty  of  illustrating  his  instruction,  and  of 
infusing  into  his  scholars  a spirit  of  emulation.  He  would 
be  facetious  or  grave,  as  the  state  of  things  demanded.  He 
left  the  academy  with  a high  reputation  as  a teacher.” 

In  borrowing  thus  the  language  of  an  early  pupil  and  friend 
of  Mr.  Fairbanks,  I am  sure  that  I am  but  doing  him  justice. 

After  leaving  the  academy,  he  studied  theology,  and  preached 
for  a while,  but,  though  often  “ called,”  was  never  “ settled” 
as  a minister. 

After  this,  he  studied  medicine,  and  practised  that  profes- 
sion for  some  time  in  what  is  now  Southbridge.  The  last 
years  of  his  life  he  pursued  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Brimfield,  where  he  died,  in  1826. 

His  forte,  however,  was  as  an  instructor.  This  was  his 
appropriate  sphere,  and  in  it  he  ought  to  have  remained. 

Hon.  Timothy  Fuller  was  English  preceptor  for  one  year, 
1801-2,  as  successor  to  Dr.  Fairbanks. 

He  was  born  in  Princeton,  in  1778,  the  son  of  the  Bev. 


147 


Timothy  Fuller,  of  that  town,  and  one  of  a somewhat  nu- 
merous family  of  sons,  who  have  been  distinguished  in  the 
Commonwealth,  the  last  of  whom  (Elisha)  recently  died  in 
Worcester.  He  was  graduated  at  Cambridge  in  1801. 

Of  his  character  as  a teacher,  I speak  by  authority  of  one 
who  knew  him  in  that  capacity.  He  is  described  as  haying 
been 

“ A correct  and  thorough  scholar,  under  whose  instruction  the  pupils  made 
good  improvement,  although  by  temperament  less  patient  at  times  than 
desirable,  and  consequently  less  popular  than  he  otherwise  would  have  been.” 

He  was  afterwards  a successful  lawyer  in  Suffolk  and  Mid- 
dlesex. He  resided  at  Cambridge,  and  represented  that  dis- 
trict in  Congress,  from  1817  to  1825.  He  was  also  one  year 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  the  Massachusetts 
legislature. 

For  the  last  -few  years  of  his  life,  he  resided  in  Groton, 
where  he  died,  October  1st,  1835,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven. 

A son  of  his  is  a respectable  clergyman  in  Boston,  and  was 
one  of  the  chaplains  of  the  legislature  in  1854.  His  daughter, 
the  Countess  D’Ossoli,  better  known  as  Margaret  Fuller, 
achieved  too  wide  a fame  as  a writer  to  need  anything  more 
than  the  mention  of  her  name.  Her  sad  fate,  with  that  of 
her  husband  and  child,  awakened  a deep  sympathy  through 
the  whole  community. 

Eleazek  Foster,  Esq.,  was  preceptor  of  the  English  school 
in  1802—3.  He  was  born  in  Union,  Conn.,  June  4th,  1778, 
and  was  fitted  for  college  at  this  academy.  He  was  graduated 
at  Yale,  in  1800.  He  studied  law,  and  established  himself  in 
New  Haven,  where  he  rose  to  distinction  by  the  industry, 
integrity  and  ability  which  he  brought  into  the  practice  of  his 
profession. 

He  was,  for  some  time  before  his  death,  the  victim  of  dis- 
ease, which  was  aggravated  by  his  devotion  to  business. 

He  died  at  the  early  age  of  forty-one,  May  1st,  1849,  uni- 
versally respected  and  beloved. 


148 


I have  before  me  a sketch  of  Mr.  Foster’s  character,  by  the 
late  Judge  Bristol,  of  the  United  States  District  Court,  in 
Connecticut,  in  which  he  speaks  of  him  in  terms  of  warm 
admiration  and  respect. 

“The  deep  concern  felt  at  his  illness,  and  the  still  deeper  regret  visible 
through  all  classes  of  our  citizens  at  his  death,  form  the  best  eulogy  upon 
the  character,  and,  at  the  same  time,  demand  a tribute  of  respect  to  the  vir- 
tues, of  this  excellent  man.  For  the  higher  stations  of  a magistrate,  and 
representative  in  the  legislature,  he  was  guided  by  that  uprightness  and 
impartiality,  which  fully  evinced  his  love  of  justice,  and  his  sacred  regard  to 
the  true  interests  of  the  public.” 

His  was  a delightful,  consistent  character,  in  which  the 
scholar,  the  Christian,  and  the  man  of  business  were  blended 
in  a manner  to  dignify  and  adorn  his  life,  and  endear  his 
memory. 

Dr.  George  Cheyne  Shattuck.  As  we  thus  follow  along 
the  catalogue  of  those  who  have  filled  the  place  of  which  I am 
speaking,  it  is  pleasant  to  find,  at  so  many  stages  of  our  his- 
tory, men  not  only  successful  in  the  sphere  which,  for  a greater 
or  less  time  they  occupied,  in  connection  with  the  academy, 
but  great  in  whatever  walk  they  chose  in  life,  and  eminent  for 
qualities  that  command  the  respect  and  veneration  of  all. 

We  have  already  before  us,  on  these  pages,  enough  to  justify 
this  remark,  and,  were  I at  liberty  to  speak,  as  every  one  would 
think,  of  the  living  as  of  departed  worthies,  I should  have  no 
fear  that  I need  qualify  it.  The  name  of  one,  the  cotemporary 
and  professional  associate  of  Dr.  Shattuck,  comes  up  at  once 
before  me  in  this  connection,  but  long  may  it  be  before,  within 
the  rule  I have  prescribed  for  these  notices,  his  worth  shall  be 
recorded  in  the  form  of  history. 

Dr.  Shattuck  was  one  of  the  class  of  men  to  whom  I have 
just  alluded. 

He  was  born  in  Templeton,  in  1784,  the  son  of  Dr.  Benja- 
min Shattuck,  and  was  fitted  for  college  at  this  academy.  He 
was  graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  1803,  and  came  at  once  to  the 
academy  as  preceptor  of  the  English  department.  Here  he 


149 


remained  till  August,  1804,  when  he  commenced  the  study 
of  the  profession  to  which  he  devoted  his  life. 

His  fidelity  and  success  as  a teacher  were  such  as  those  who 
knew  him  in  after  life  would  have  presumed  from  this  uniform 
trait  that  distinguished  his  character. 

I have  never  found  one  of  his  pupils  who  did  not  speak  of 
him  in  terms  of  affection  and  respect.  And  to  the  generation 
that  were  upon  the  stage  in  Leicester  as  citizens,  and  knew 
him  while  resident  there,  his  name  and  his  subsequent  history 
were  always  familiar.  I have  before  me  a letter  from  one  of 
his  pupils,  who  speaks  of  him,  at  that  time,  as  an  agreeable 
young  man,  a good  scholar,  of  studious  habits,  very  much 
beloved  by  the  students,  and  a very  successful  instructor. 

Of  his  life  and  success  in  his  profession,  I have  no  occasion 
to  speak,  in  a community  where  he  has  so  recently  formed  one 
of  its  prominent  men. 

Having  acquired  the  means  of  indulging  a spirit  of  liberal 
generosity,  which  formed  one  of  the  traits  of  his  character, 
the  history  of  his  charities  would  disclose  private  and  public 
benefactions  creditable  alike  to  his  heart  and  his  judgment. 
His  Alma  Mater  shared  liberally  in  his  bounty.  Harvard 
University  has  cause  for  gratitude  for  what  he  did  for  her,  and 
the  regard  he  always  entertained  for  this  academy  was  shown, 
on  a recent  occasion,  by  a voluntary  contribution  to  make  up 
the  requisite  sum  to  secure  the  proposed  donation  of  Mr. 
Smith. 

I have  more  than  once  heard  him  speak,  with  interest,  of 
the  pleasant  memories  which  he  cherished,  of  scenes  and  per- 
sons and  events,  which  were  associated  with  his  connection 
with  the  academy. 

He  received  many  literary  honors,  from  several  of  the 
American  colleges  ; among  them,  the  degree  of  LL.  D.,  from 
his  Alma  Mater,  in  1853,  and  was  a member  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  President  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Medical  Society. 

He  died  in  1854,  at  the  age  of  seventy,  with  intellect  unim- 
10 


150 


paired,  and  sympathies  and  affections  unblunted  by  the  wear 
of  time. 

William  J.  Whipple,  Esq.  was  the  preceptor  of  the 
English  department,  from  August,  1805,  to  1806,  and  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Hutchins. 

He  was  a native  of  Uxbridge,  and  was  graduated  at  Cam- 
bridge, in  1805.  He  came  to  the  place  with  the  reputation 
of  a respectable  scholar,  and,  without  any  distinguished  emi- 
nence as  a teacher,  sustained  himself  well  in  that  situation. 

After  leaving  Leicester,  he  studied  law,  with  the  Hon.  D. 
A.  White,  then  of  Newburyport,  and  established  himself  in 
Dudley.  He  remained  here  a short  time,  and  then  removed 
to  Cambridge,  where  he  resided  and  practised  law  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  several  times  a representative 
of  that  town  in  the  General  Court,  where  he  held  a good  rank 
for  diligence  in  business,  and  soundness  of  iudgment.  He 
died  in  1850. 

Rev.  John  Field  was  of  a class  of  men  by  no  means  small, 
who,  with  great  diligence,  great  conscientiousness,  and  very 
respectable  talents,  are  never  particularly  successful  in  life. 
He  was  a native  of  Oakham,  and  was  graduated  at  Williams 
College,  in  1807,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven.  The  next  year 
he  was  employed  as  English  preceptor  of  the  academy.  He 
had  all  the  maturity  which  even  many  more  years  than  he 
had  seen,  could  ordinarily  give  one,  and,  after  the  close  of  his 
engagement  here,  he  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  theology, 
a profession  which,  from  the  first,  he  had  intended  to  pursue. 
He  was  licensed  and  ordained  over  the  church  and  society  in 
North  Wrentham.  After  a few  years’  connection  with  this 
people,  he  was  dismissed,  and  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he 
continued  to  preach,  though  I have  not  ascertained  that  he 
wras  ever  again  settled  over  any  society. 

He  died,  at  the  age  of  forty-eight,  in  the  year  1828. 

David  Brigham  finds  a place'  here,  although  he  was  pre- 
ceptor of  the  English  department  for,  I believe,  a single 
term  only,  in  1819. 


151 


He  was  a native  of  Shrewsbury,  born  August  15th,  1786, 
and  graduated  at  Cambridge,  1810.  After  graduating,  he 
was  employed  awhile  as  tutor  at  Bowdoin  College. 

He  studied  law,  and  practised  his  profession  in  several  dif- 
ferent towns,  at  first,  I believe,  in  New  Braintree.  From 
there  he  removed  to  Leicester  in  1817,  where  he  remained 
something  over  two  years.  He  removed  to  Greenfield,  and 
became  a copartner  with  the  Hon.  Samuel  C.  Allen.  There 
he  married  a daughter  of  Jerome  Bipley,  Esq.  He  removed 
to  Shrewsbury,  and,  after  a few  years,  removed  again  to 
Fitchburg,  where  he  still  continued  his  profession.  After 
some  time  spent  here,  he  was  induced,  by  strong  encourage- 
ment held  out  to  him,  to  remove  to  Iowa,  where  he  died,  in 
1848,  at  the  age  of  57. 

Mr.  Brigham  was  a fine  scholar,  a good  writer,  a sound 
lawyer,  and  a pleasant  and  agreeable  companion.  Yet  his 
success  in  life  was  never  such  as  these  qualities  are  ordinarily 
calculated  to  secure.  Nor  did  he  lack  industry  in  his  devo- 
tion to  business.  He  was  a man  of  a good  degree  of  wit  and 
humor,  a little  specimen  of  which  was  often  repeated  at  the 
bar.  Awaking,  one  night,  at  his  boarding-house,  where  his 
fellow-lodgers  were  somewhat  free  in  their  manners,  he  found 
himself  between  two  of  his  brethren  in  the  same  bed.  Almost 
gasping  for  breath,  he  remarked,  “ Sure  enough,  the  profession 
is  crowded ,”  and  yielded,  for  the  rest  of  the  night,  the  privilege 
of  such  a place  of  "repose.  As  a teacher,  both  at  Bowdoin  and 
at  Leicester,  he  was  acceptable  and  successful,  and,  had  he 
adopted  that  as  his  pursuit  in  life,  perhaps  greater  eminence 
would  have  repaid  his  devotion  to  his  calling. 

Whether  others  of  the  English  or  associate  teachers  of  the 
academy  ought  to  be  noticed  here,  I am  not  fully  informed. 
They  are  not  intentionally  omitted. 

Of  some  of  those  who  were  assistants  for  a short  period,  I 
have  the  means  of  presenting  a brief  notice. 

Hon.  Phinehas  Bruce  was  the  earliest  of  those.  He  was 
a native  of  Leicester,  and  was  born  in  1762.  His  father, 


152 


George  Bruce,  once  kept  a public  house  upon  what  is  called 
“ Mount  Pleasant.”  The  son,  while  a member  of  Yale  Col- 
lege, was  employed,  in  1785,  as  an  assistant  of  Mr.  Payson. 
He  was  graduated  in  1786,  studied  law,  married  a sister  of 
the  Hon.  James  Savage,  of  Boston,  and  commenced  practice 
in  Machias,  Maine.  He  was  an  uncle  of  the  Hon.  George  B. 
TJpton,  of  Boston.  He  rose  to  considerable  eminence  in  his 
profession,  and,  in  1803,  was  elected  to  Congress,  and  subse- 
quently a second  time,  but  never  took  his  seat,  being  stricken 
with  that  dreadful  malady,  insanity,  from  exposure,  and  over- 
tasking his  jpowers  in  the  business  of  his  profession.  And,  it 
being  before  the  light  of  modern  discoveries  in  the  science 
of  mental  disease,  he  was  never  fully  restored. 

He  was  a man  of  fine,  prepossessing  manners,  good  abilities, 
and  possessed,  to  a high  degree,  the  respect  of  the  public,  and 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  friends. 

He  never  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  resume  his 
profession. 

Before  his  election  to  Congress,  Mr.  Bruce  had  been  a 
member  of  both  branches  of  the  legislature  of  Massachu- 
setts, and,  in  every  place  which  he  was  called  to  fill,  he 
acquitted  himself  with  great  credit,  and  was  universally 
esteemed  as  a man  of  fine  powers,  and  of  those  qualities 
which  could  not  fail  to  commend  him  to  public  favor.  He 
died  October  4th,  1809. 

Du.  Stephen  Ball  was  of  Northboro’,  the  son  of  a 
physician  of  the  same  name. 

He  was  employed,  as  an  assistant,  under  Mr.  Adams,  a 
short  time,  in  1791.  After  leaving  the  academy,  he  became, 
himself,  a physician,  and,  through  a long  life,  sustained  a 
high  reputation  in  his  profession,  in  his  native  town,  where 
he  always  resided. 

James  Day,  Esq.,  was  an  assistant  of  Mr.  Foster,  in  the 
English  school,  in  1802,  for  nearly  a year. 

He  was  born  in  Wrentham,  December  19,  1778,  and,  ten 
years  afterwards,  removed  to  Paxton.  He  was  fitted  for 


153 


college  at  this  academy,  and  was  graduated  at  Cambridge,  in 
1806,  in  the  same  class  with  several  who  had  fitted  at 
Leicester  Academy,  among  them,  Daniel  Henshaw,  Esq., 
whose  name  has  often  been  referred  to  in  this  report. 

After  leaving  college,  Mr.  Day  taught  the  Derby  Academy, 
at  Hingham,  one  year.  He  then  studied  law  with  Chief 
Justice  Ward  and  Judge  Prescott,  in  Boston,  and  commenced 
business  in  his  profession,  in  that,  then,  town.  After  four 
years,  he  removed  to  Roxburv,  where  he  was  engaged,  as  a 
teacher,  for  three  years.  After  that,  he  was  seven  years 
engaged,  as  a teacher,  in  Salem,  and  subsequently,  for  three 
years,  he  taught  a private  school,  in  Boston.  The  balance  of 
his  life  he  spent  in  retirement,  upon  his  farm,  in  Paxton, 
where  he  died,  December  16th,  1853,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
four  years.  If  the  life  of  a good  schoolmaster  is  one  of 
usefulness,  Mr.  Day  may  have  been  regarded  as  a public 
benefactor,  as  he  was  an  excellent  private  citizen. 

Edward  A.  Selfridge  was  an  assistant  of  Dr.  Shattuck, 
in  1803.  He  was  brother  of  Thomas  O.  Selfridge,  Esq.,  and 
was  born  in  Hubbardston.  Both  brothers  fitted  for  college 
at  the  academy.  Edward  was  graduated  .at  Dartmouth,  in 
1805. 

He  was  a good  scholar,  of  a strong  and  vigorous  mind,  and 
wTell  calculated  to  become  eminent  in  the  profession — the 
law — which  he  had  chosen.  But  he  was  cut  off  while 
engaged  in  his  studies,  and  left  only  the  memory  of  early 
hopes  and  bright  promises  eclipsed. 

Joseph  Sprague,  Esq.,  who  was  an  assistant,  in  1808, 
for  a short  time,  was  a native  of  Leicester,  the  son  of  Capt. 
William  Sprague.  He  was,  for  many  years,  a prominent 
citizen  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  mayor  of  the  city,  at  one 
time.  He  died  in  the  year  1854,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one. 

Dr.  Seth  Washburn  was  an  assistant,  in  1816.  He 
was  a native  of  Leicester,  the  son  of  Joseph  Washburn,  and 
"rand-son  of  the  first  trustee  of  the  name.  He  studied  his 
profession  partly  with  Dr.  J.  PI.  Flint,  already  mentioned, 


154 


and  died  in  the  midst  of  a full  professional  practice,  at  Green- 
field, in  January,  1825,  at  the  age  of  thirty-four. 

Of  the  female  assistants,  one  only,  I believe,  has  died. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Holmes  was  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Jacob 
Holmes,  an  eminent  physician,  formerly  resident  in  Athol, 
where  she  was  born,  and,  during  the  latter  years  of  his  life, 
in  Leicester. 

She  was  educated  at  that  excellent  school  whose  reputation 
was  so  long  sustained,  and  at  which  so  many  of  the  best- 
trained  minds  in  New  England  were  educated,  Miss  Eiske’s, 
at  Keene. 

She  was  a woman  of  strong,  quick  powers  of  mind,  refined 
by  cultivation,  and  strengthened  and  disciplined  by  study  and 
reflection. 

The  extent  to  which  these,  and  her  services  in  the  academy, 
were  appreciated  by  the  trustees,  will  appear  from  resolutions 
adopted  by  them,  in  view  of  her  death,  in  1849 : 

“ The  board  of  trustees  have  learned,  with  deep  regret,  the  decease  of  Miss 
Elizabeth  Holmes,  for  the  last  thirteen  years  an  accomplished  and  esteemed 
teacher  in  Leicester  Academy,  and  that  they  tender  then-  sympathy  to  the 
mother  of  the  deceased,  in  her  sudden  and  great  bereavement” 

She  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-five. 

The  employment  of  a female  assistant  teacher,  was  some- 
what of  an  experiment  when  Miss  Holmes  was  selected  for 
the  place ; but  the  success  which  attended  it,  under  her 
administration,  left  it  no  longer  an  experiment. 

In  closing  this  chapter  of  this  little  work,  I cannot  forbear 
indulging  in  grateful  reflection,  as  I recur  to  even  these  brief 
notices  of  the  men  who  have  successively  filled  the  chairs  of 
instruction  in  this  academy.  Here  are  names  of  which  any 
institution  may  be  proud ; not  confined  to  the  mere  school- 
room, or  the  round  of  the  teacher’s  duty,  but  associated  with, 
and  eminent  in,  every  profession. 

They  came  to  the  institution,  many  of  them  in  the  freshness 


155 


and  vigor  of  early  life ; and  they  gave  to  it  the  best  energies 
and  warmest  aspirations  of  a young  man’s  mind.  And  their 
success,  as  teachers,  was  often  but  the  earnest  of  them  success 
in  the  wider  and  more  exciting  arena  of  active  life.  I could 
have  wished  that  a more  able  pen,  with  far  more  leisure  to 
perform  the  work,  had  undertaken  the  task  of  preserving  the 
memorials  of  these  men,  in  their  connection  with  the  academy. 
May  he  who  carries  out  this  record,  as  one  after  another  of 
these  men  shall  he  gathered  to  an  honorable  grave,  bring  to  it 
a capacity  equal  to  the  desire  of  him  who  has  gone  thus  far, 
to  do  the  work  well. 


156 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  form  of  a new  chapter,  for  the  closing  pages  of  this 
part  of  this  little  work,  is  adopted  rather  to  indicate  the  point 
at  which  it  stops,  than  the  contents,  which,  as  a distinct 
chapter,  it  is  to  contain. 

The  list  of  stewards,  so  far  as  I have  ascertained  them,  is 
as  follows : 


1785,  . 

. . . . Jonas  Stone,  Esq. 

1807,  . 

. . . . Amos  Smith. 

1808,  . 

. . . . Capt.  Daniel  Hubbard. 

1813,  . 

Daniel  Upham. 

1816,  . 

. . . . Joseph  Maynard, 

1819,  . 

. . . . Hiram  Knight. 

1822,  . 

. . . . Charles  King. 

Since  which  time,  Mr.  John  Loring,  Billings  Hobart, 
Delphos  Washburn,  and  others,  have  held  the  place. 

In  respect  to  what  properly  forms  a part  of  the  subject  of 
this  chapter,  the  distinguished  men  and  women  who  have 
once  been  pupils  of  the  academy,  the  topic  is  too  broad  to 
attempt  it  at  present. 

There  is  no  complete  catalogue  of  the  students  of  the 
academy,  preserved  ; nor  can  one,  at  this  late  day,  be  made. 

It  is,  therefore,  only  by  personal  appeals  to  others,  aided  by 
my  own  recollection,  for  something  less  than  half  a century, 
that  I have  been  able  to  gather  up  the  names  of  some  of  those 
who  would  be  embraced  in  the  category  of  distinguished 
pupils. 


15V 


But  the  very  catalogue  before  me,  gathered,  in  no  small 
degree,  from  the  recollections  of  Daniel  Henshaw,  Esq., 
reminds  me  that  the  completion  of  this  work  must  be  the 
result  of  the  patient  and  extended  labor  of  a future  hour. 

Among  those  whom  I have  not  named  already,  of  the  living 
as  well  as  the  dead,  we  find  the  sons  of  Leicester  Academy — 
those  who,  at  some  time,  have  been  members  of  the  institu- 
tion— men  eminent  in  every  calling  and  profession  of  life — 
the  professions,  the  army,  the  navy,  the  halls  of  Congress, 
the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  and  the  judicial  and  executive 
chairs  of  government,  have  each  had  their  representatives 
from  this  academy. 

Among  these  I name,  almost  at  random, — 

The  Hon.  William  L.  Marcy,  now  Secretary  of  State  of  the 
United  States  ; the  Hon.  William  Upham,  late  a Senator  in 
Congress,  from  Vermont;  Rev.  Dr.  Spring,  of  New  York; 
Hon.  John  Davis,  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  Sena- 
tor in  Congress  ; Hon.  Ebenezer  Lane,  late  Chief  Justice  of 
Ohio  ; the  gallant  Col.  Aspinwall,  formerly  of  the  LTnited 
States  army,  and  for  many  years  consul  at  London  ; Augustus 
White,  who  fell  on  the  deck  of  the  Chesapeake  ; Hon.  David 
Henshaw,  once  Secretary  of  the  Navy ; Hon.  Pliny  Merrick, 
and  Hon.  Benjamin  F.  Thomas,  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Massachusetts ; Dr.  Hedge,  the  learned  Professor  in  Har- 
vard College  ; Hon.  Virgil  Maxv,  the  gifted  and  eloquent 
advocate,  who,  while  Solicitor  of  the  Treasury,  fell  by  the 
same  catastrophe  that  destroyed  Secretary  Upsher  on  board  the 
Princeton  ; Milton  Maxv,  his  brother,  more  than  his  equal  in 
brilliancy,  — the  student  of  Alexander  Hamilton;  Henry  B. 
Stone,  Esq.,  so  many  years  the  President  of  the  Suffolk  Bank  ; 
Nathan  Guilford,  Esq.,  late  of  Cincinnati,  deceased  ; Rev.  Dr. 
Brazer,  late  of  Salem  ; and  Rev.  Dr.  Church,  late  of  Pelham, 
N.  H.  And  if  to  these  I were  to  add  the  names  of  those 
once  pupils  of  the  academy,  who  have  made  their  influence 
felt,  as  the  graceful,  and  dignified,  and  gifted  wives  and 
mothers  of  the  leading  men  of  their  day,  the  task,  though  a 
11 


158 


pleasant  one,  would  require  a degree  of  time  and  labor  which 
is  not  now  at  my  command. 

Whether,  in  carrying  out  the  original  plan  of  this  work, 
this  or  another  hand  shall  be  employed  to  trace  the  history  of 
any  of  these,  they  will  ever  be  among  the  jewels  of  which  the 
academy  may  be  justly  proud. 


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